The Chigue’ze Passion Pilgrimage takes place every year, accompanied by stewards and devotees, traveling through the main streets of the Seventh Section of Juchitán until reaching the interior of the Bií Hioxo wind farm, entering through the South Substation.
This year, participants gathered at 6:00 a.m. at one of the most emblematic chapels of the section, the Santa Cruz de los Pescadores chapel. During the journey, believers perform posadas as a way of fulfilling vows or promises, demonstrating their devotion and commitment to faith in this deity.
As part of the history of the name, Víctor de la Cruz, in his text Beliefs and Religious Practices of the Descendants of the Binnigula’sa’, presents two possible meanings for the name of the sanctuary.
Based on the inscription on the arm of the Cross, guichiguedze, he deduces a ritual significance, as guichi means thorn in Zapotec:
“It is possible that the pilgrimage site is sacred because thorns were obtained there for sacrifice… Observing the surroundings of the sanctuary, the vegetation is freshwater-based, especially thorny plants instead of mangroves. Among them, one stands out, used by farmers to identify underground water currents, called guie’se’, whose leaves end in a thorn,” explained researcher Víctor Cruz.
The other meaning is related to the use of corn, as Gueeze’ means pinole. The researcher traced the word in the vocabulary of Friar Juan de Córdova, who in the 16th century recorded lachiqueze as flour flower.
This pilgrimage is one of the public manifestations of religious belief that form part of the culture and traditions of the Zapotec people. With great devotion, the faithful seek comfort or healing, and for the pilgrims, it represents an act of penance and purification before the new planting season begins.
This year, the Social Management team and its Community House Nacanu’ Biì once again participated in this activity, gathering comments, evidence, and testimonies from the landowners of the Bií Hioxo wind farm and the community.
During the journey to the sanctuary, some ranches within the wind farm’s perimeter were visited, most of them leased by the wind farm. At each location, the Holy Cross was received along with its believers, who offered food and drink as part of the ritual known as Posadas.
“This year, I lent my land to receive the Holy Cross because we asked the Sembrando Vida Guendanabani group—‘The field is the foundation that sustains the nation’ to bless us. These plants will be used to reforest our own ranches,” said landowner Ángel López.
“It is a pleasure to have you visit again. I won’t be able to welcome you as I would like this time because I injured my foot, but we always receive you with great affection,”said landowner Víctor Regalado.
“Now we understand the importance of the wind farm’s social responsibility. We didn’t know you had a Community House or that different activities were carried out in the community. We knew that the chapels received some maintenance, but we weren’t aware that the wind farm supported the community in this way. It’s good to know that activities are being carried out for the entire community,” explained content creators from the Me Gusta Juchitán page.
