Identity, Ritual, and Power in Colonial Puebla Public ritual shaped the political culture, as well as the lives of the residents and officials in Puebla. Frances L. Ramos’ Identity, Ritual, and Power in Colonial Puebla illustrates us the importance of these rituals and how they played an integral role in connecting abstract influences within residents and imperial identities. Ritual “helped to reaffirm hierarchy and strengthen people’s affiliations to local corporations, their city, the imperial body politic, and the spiritual body of Christ.” (Ramos, 212) Additionally, as mentioned in the latter quote, the city’s Cabildo (town council) applied ritual to promote a stronger sense of religiosity to the residents of Puebla. These two roles shared
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To be specific, ritual was used to celebrate both local officials and members of the crown. This ritual was an effective way to show the residents of Puebla how their leaders were influential, relevant and important to the community. The crown did not want to seem disconnected from the residents, albeit, there was always a sense of detachment from the king. Furthermore, Ramos illustrates the specific role of the crown as it shows the king as the head of the body politic. As per the book, the Spanish crown correlated to the ideals of a patriarchy and, as such, rituals effectively promoted these principles. In lieu of the crown, the Viceroy was reified through ritual as they held the highest power within New Spain and a direct link to the public in Puebla. Ceremonies were created to promote the king and its own local authority as head of Puebla 's political body. In association with the Viceroy and the Spanish crown, ritual concerning the Catholic church was not an uncommon practice in …show more content…
Religion played a major role in Colonial era Mexico. “Ritual, of course, did not just serve the state, but served the broader church and played a primary role in creating a religious culture particular to Puebla” (Ramos, 214). To promote religion, officials used ritual to create liturgical ceremonies/occasions such as Christmas celebrations and the Easter. Moreover, the Cabildo helped set up local patron saints, most which were “elected to protect the city from natural disasters” (Ramos, 214). Puebla’s rituals served to connect the crown and the viceroy to the people. To shed light into ritual in Puebla and the promotion of religion, by creating a civic liturgy and ceremonies, the Cabildo acted like a mediator and a central amalgamating force. It is to be held true that both local and imperial identities and the church utilized ritual within Puebla to accomplish the same
To be specific, ritual was used to celebrate both local officials and members of the crown. This ritual was an effective way to show the residents of Puebla how their leaders were influential, relevant and important to the community. The crown did not want to seem disconnected from the residents, albeit, there was always a sense of detachment from the king. Furthermore, Ramos illustrates the specific role of the crown as it shows the king as the head of the body politic. As per the book, the Spanish crown correlated to the ideals of a patriarchy and, as such, rituals effectively promoted these principles. In lieu of the crown, the Viceroy was reified through ritual as they held the highest power within New Spain and a direct link to the public in Puebla. Ceremonies were created to promote the king and its own local authority as head of Puebla 's political body. In association with the Viceroy and the Spanish crown, ritual concerning the Catholic church was not an uncommon practice in …show more content…
Religion played a major role in Colonial era Mexico. “Ritual, of course, did not just serve the state, but served the broader church and played a primary role in creating a religious culture particular to Puebla” (Ramos, 214). To promote religion, officials used ritual to create liturgical ceremonies/occasions such as Christmas celebrations and the Easter. Moreover, the Cabildo helped set up local patron saints, most which were “elected to protect the city from natural disasters” (Ramos, 214). Puebla’s rituals served to connect the crown and the viceroy to the people. To shed light into ritual in Puebla and the promotion of religion, by creating a civic liturgy and ceremonies, the Cabildo acted like a mediator and a central amalgamating force. It is to be held true that both local and imperial identities and the church utilized ritual within Puebla to accomplish the same