Oaxaca is one of the states with the greatest variety of crafts, ranging from handcrafted clothing to decorations made from typical materials like black clay. Each item has a special meaning based on the indigenous traditions that prevail in Oaxaca. In this post, we’ll explain the meaning of alebrijes, which were invented in the first half of the 20th century.

Alebrijes are beings with physical traits of one or many real or imaginary animals. But what makes alebrijes one of the most famous crafts in Mexico? The answer is that each alebrije is unique. Moreover, the people of Oaxaca combined handcrafted sculpture with a pre-Hispanic concept to give them a spiritual meaning.

An important element of alebrijes is that they are dyed with bright natural pigments, each carrying its own meaning. Green represents empathy and is connected to nature, while brown symbolizes the earth and animals. Other colors represent emotions: pink is associated with love, yellow tones express joy, and orange releases negative emotions.

Nahuales

Nahuales are a belief from various pre-Hispanic cultures, particularly the Maya, Toltec, and Mixtec. They are described as beings that can transform into animals, which allowed them to communicate with nature. In some of these cultures, they were linked to the divine, as gods were often associated with specific animals.

Oaxacan alebrijes are inspired by this belief and represent the animal counterpart of individuals. These spirits appear in dreams or are reflected in the characteristics and abilities of each person. For example, someone with bird traits might have a beautiful singing voice.

The Meaning of Alebrijes

According to pre-Hispanic traditions, at birth, the spirit has an animal protector depending on the day and year of birth. These spirit guides are called tonás. Within the Zapotec calendar, there are 20 animal species that represent the tonás.

In Zapotec culture, the ritual to recognize a newborn's toná involved drawing a circle of lime, and the footprints found the next morning indicated the animal that would become the toná. This also revealed the child's personality.

Each animal has its own meaning. For example, someone with a coyote or wolf toná is tenacious. Armadillos represent strength, a cat toná means independence and freedom, while dogs symbolize loyalty and protection. Those with a dragon as their protector are passionate individuals.

An alebrije protects and wards off evil spirits. Today, one of the villages in Oaxaca that specializes in creating personalized alebrijes is San Martín Tilcajete. With Rutopía, you can visit an alebrije workshop and discover their creation process. Our spiritual guide is waiting for us!