“The Priest’s Party”: Local Catholicism and Panismo in Huajuapam de León

Abstract

On 8 September 1947, the people of Huajuapam de León assembled to celebrate the centennial of the death of Antonio de León, the independence leader who died fighting American forces at Molino del Rey and whose name had been adopted by his home town. The commemoration was designed to heal two decades of bitter division in Huajuapam under the umbrella of national unity. The Mexican flag was to be raised and a tree planted with the soil of each Mixtec municipality. 1 Furthermore, supporters of both the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) and the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) took part in the organizing committee. At the same time, Oaxaca’s priísta governor, Eduardo Vasconcelos, and the PAN’s lay and clerical leaders agreed to preside over the event. 2 However, during the speeches and festivities, it became clear that both sides were celebrating different ideas of patriotic accord. While the local PRI chief’s speech was restrained and secular, those of PAN supporters were steeped in religious imagery: 3 Miguel López y López reminded the crowd that de León’s banner was the flag of Iguala, “with its three symbols, union, independence, and religion,” before breaking into a song celebrating de León’s attachment to La Guadalupe, Huajuapam’s churches, and God himself. 4 Another panista claimed that the “Angel of Mexico” was celebrating the Immaculate Conception the day de León died, and thus neglected to care for one of her “chosen sons.” 5 These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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