If you have ever heard of Catemaco, Veracruz, it was probably in the context of brujos and curanderos. And that is no coincidence. This small city on the shore of a lake in southern Veracruz is known across Latin America as the capital of the Mexican curandero tradition. But why? What makes Catemaco different?
What is Catemaco and why is it special?
Catemaco is a city of just over 50,000 people on the shore of Lake Catemaco, in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz. Its geography, surrounded by jungle, volcanoes and water, has given it an atmosphere the Indigenous communities of the region have considered sacred for centuries.
The curandero tradition of Catemaco has roots in the Olmec and Totonac cultures that lived in the region before the arrival of the Spanish. Over time, that tradition mixed with elements of folk Catholicism and grew into what we know today as Veracruz curanderismo.
The congress of brujos, a tradition of its own
Every first Friday of March, Catemaco holds the National Congress of Brujos and Curanderos, an event that draws practitioners from all over Mexico and Latin America, and the curious from around the world. At this congress, curanderos perform public rituals, share knowledge and reaffirm the living force of a tradition with centuries of history.
Don Jacinto Nahual took part in these congresses for years before settling in Los Angeles. That experience, sharing knowledge with the best curanderos in the country, is part of his formation.
What sets a Catemaco curandero apart?
Not everyone who calls himself a curandero is one. In Catemaco, the tradition is passed from master to apprentice through years of training. It is not a course you take online or a title you buy; it is a way of life that involves decades of practice and learning.
Don Jacinto Nahual was formed in that tradition. He learned from his masters in Catemaco, practiced for decades in the region, and today brings that knowledge to the Latino community in California, without losing the essence of what he learned.
Curanderismo and the Latino community in the United States
For many Latinos in the United States, curanderismo is not superstition; it is part of their cultural and spiritual heritage. A way to connect with their roots, to seek help where conventional medicine does not reach, to keep alive a tradition their grandparents knew well.
Don Jacinto Nahual came to Los Angeles precisely because that community needed him. People who arrived in this country with their traditions and their faith, and who sometimes face situations that need the kind of help only someone like him can give. He works in English and Spanish.
Want to know more about the Catemaco tradition or talk to Don Jacinto about your case? Reach out and tell him what you are going through.
📞 Call: (213) 598-1928