El mercado de Sonora

Abstract

Traditional markets are a historical, geographical, and cultural synthesis of a town. In this article testimonies by Hernan Cortes, Toribio de Benavente (Motolinia) and Bemardino de Sahagún concerning prehispanic markets are cited. The Hispanic-Arabic roots of the Mexica¡ markets are pointed out, and in this context the focus is on the market of La Merced, known at the beginnirg of the 19th century as the Las Atarazanas and since 1890 as La Merced. Cited for the 19th century is the work by Rivera Cambas, and for this century the investigation by Enrique Valencia. The name of the Sonora Market, a section of La Merced, is explained. The sectors in which the Sonora Market is organized are mentioned: toys, crockery, crafts, birds. Described more thoroughly are the related aspects of herbal (fresh and dried) medicine, and amulets and talismans that provide psychological security in different beliefs: Christian, Hindu, Nahua, and African. The case of the hurnmingbird, syrnbol of love, is illustrated, and two examples of orations are given: one to the seven powers (potencias) and the other to Pancho Villa.