Papel Picado
* Chiseled Paper * Folk Art * Living Tradition *
* Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy *
Carmen Lomas Garza
Papel Picado
…is a folk art tradition used to beautify and celebrate important holidays and milestones in the greater Mexican and Central American communities of the world.
* Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy *
PreColumbian Roots
Papel Picado originates in the Aztec paper crafts used for religious ceremonies before the arrival of the Spaniards to the Americas.
The paper that they used before 1492 was made of pulp from tree bark, and it was called amatl.
* Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy *
Colonial Adaptations
In the year 1519 the Spaniards invaded the City of Tenochtitlan (now known as Mexico City) and overthrew the government. This happened 101 years before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth rock!
In the year 1539, the Spaniards established themselves in a town called Huixcolotla (located in the current state of Puebla, Mexico), and over the years that town became part of a route for the delivery of products from their trade in Asia.
San Salvador Huixcolotla is now recognized as the original birth place of modern Papel Picado!
* Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy *
Papel Picado Uses
Since the Independence of México and the United Provinces of Central America in 1821 (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Costarica), we have been making papel picado for these kinds of occasions:
* Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy *
Our Celebration,
Our Papel Picado!
* Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy *
Methods
Styles with scissors
* Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy *
Let’s get to work!
Links to my crafting music (Son Jarocho from East-Central México and Los Angeles, CA)
Las Cafeteras playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xv-FjbXaqk
Son de Madera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWFSOT0KT6g
Do not reproduce without written permission from Dr. Amanda Gray for Franklin STEAM Academy