The people of Mexico have been making paper since before the time of Christopher Columbus. Specifically, the Otomi Indians, living in San Pablito, an isolated village in the mountains of Mexico, still make Papel Amate. The paper is made from the bark of wild fig trees, nettle trees, and mulberry trees, each bark creating a different shade of paper.
When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, they outlawed the use of amate paper in order to promote the use of European papers. However, the very secluded Otomi people retained the custom of crafting amate paper.
This Amate, or bark paper, requires a lengthy process to create it. First, men peel bark from the trees in the village, which the women then wash and boil in large pots. Some of the bark is then bleached. Once rinsed and pulled apart into strands, these strands are laid on boards and beaten with rocks until the bark fibers are shaped into paper sheets. When completed, the sheets are placed in the sun to dry for 1-2 days.
Once the paper is ready, it is usually used in two ways:
First, the Otomi people who make the amate paper use it in ceremonial and spiritual events. They make elaborate cut-out figurines which represent spirits. The religious leaders use them to pray to and control the behavior of the spirits that are represented in the cutouts. The rituals are usually performed to cure or prevent diseases or to ensure the success of their crops and the health of their animals.
In addition, the paper is also sold to the Nahua people who use the paper to create very colorful paintings. The paintings that are created today usually illustrate animals such as deer and birds, as well as everyday life scenes such as farming, fiestas and weddings.
Images of these cut-outs and paintings can be found HERE.
Today you can create a simple version of the Papel Amate paintings!
For this project you will need:
- Download paint templates: Bird, or Flower, print on 8 1/2x 11 brown kraft paper cardstock found at your local craft store
- Brightly colored tempera or acrylic paints
- Paintbrush
- Cup of water
- Paper plate for paint
- Paper towels
Completed Papel Amate examples:
Paint with flat, even colors…..
Or experiment with layers and shading……..
Enjoy the process of learning about the culture of the Otomi and the Nahua people. Let’s pray, specifically, for the Otomi people that God will send laborers to tell them that He is in control and they don’t have to perform rituals to try and control the outcome of their lives. Pray that they might learn that God loves them and cares for them and is sovereignly over all things.
