The Mazahuas are an Indigenous people of Mexico, primarily inhabiting the northwestern portion of the State of Mexico and small parts of Michoacán and Querétaro. The largest concentration of Mazahua is found in the municipalities of San Felipe del Progreso and San José del Rincón of the State of Mexico. There is also a significant presence in Mexico City, Toluca and the Guadalajara area owing to recent migration. According to the 2010 Mexican census, there are 116,240 speakers of the language in the State of Mexico, accounting for 53% of all Indigenous language speakers in the state.
Culture
Despite their proximity to Mexico City, Mazahua culture is relatively unknown to most Mexicans and even to many anthropologists.
Women's dress
thumb|Stand with Mazahua textiles at the annual Expo de los Pueblos Indígenas in Mexico City
One way that the Mazahuas have maintained their culture is by women's dress, the elements of which have concrete meanings and specific values. The garments include a blouse, a skirt called a chincuete, an underskirt, apron, rebozo, quezquémetl, and a sash. The traditional women's outfit, especially the version handwoven in wool, is in danger of disappearing despite efforts to save the skills and traditions needed to keep it. Another interpretation of the name is from the name of the first chief, Mazatlí-Tecutli.
The language belongs to the Oto-Pamean languages branch of the Oto-Manguean languages, which is related to Otomi, Pame, Matlatzinca, and others.
According to the 2010 Mexican census, there are 116,240 speakers of the language in the State of Mexico, which is 53% of all Indigenous language speakers in the state, most of whom are bilingual in Spanish. Migration has caused Mazahua to be the sixth most commonly spoken language in Mexico City.
The New Fire ceremony occurs on March 19, which is a blessing of fire in springtime, co-ordinated by the head of the Mazahua people. The ceremony is done in a circle, with points aligned with the cardinal directions, each honoring a different deity. The wood in the center is blessed and lit. The fire is then distributed by candles.
Handcrafts
thumb|Mazahua-style bracelets at the [[Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City, by Isabel Quijano, Maria Dolores Garcia, Angelica Reyes and Matilde Reyes]]
The main handcraft-producing areas are San Felipe del Progreso, Temascalcingo, Ixtlahuaca and Atlacomulco. Handcrafts include textiles such as blankets, sashes, rugs, cushions, tablecloths, carrying bags and quezquémetls made of wool. In San Felipe del Progreso and Villa Victoria, there are workshops which made brooms and brushes. In Temascalcingo, red clay pottery is dominant especially cooking pots, flowerpots and crucibles. The making of gloves, scarves and sweaters is dominant in Ixtlahuaca. Straw hats are made in Atlacomulco. Silversmithing is done in San Felipe del Progreso.
While traditional handcrafts have been an important part of Mazahua culture, the tradition of making them is disappearing in the younger generations.
Diet
Health for the Mazahuas is both physical and spiritual. They also believe in "good" and "bad" ailments, the former sent by God and the latter provoked by some evil on someone's part or supernatural causes. "Good" ailments include diarrhea, pneumonia, bronchitis, and intestinal parasites. "Bad" ones include "the evil eye", "fright," and "bad air." The classification indicates the kind of treatment, which can include herbal remedies, massages, ceremonies, or professional medicine. Common feast foods are turkey in mole sauce and drinks called zende and pulque, especially on the locality's patron saint's feast day. Turkey in mole sauce is usually reserved for the patron saint day and weddings. Zende is a local drink made with sprouted corn, which is brewed and colored with a little bit of chili pepper. A small amount of pulque is then added to start the fermentation process. Ready about four days later, it has a sweet and sour taste.
Men traditionally earned money for the family by agriculture and making charcoal. In the past, Mazahua communities were self-sufficient, but that is no longer the case.