Experience the Real Mexico: Outdoor Markets

Tara A. Spears

An easy way to savor the rich culture of Mexico is to visit one of the ubiquitous outdoor markets. Jaltemba Bay offers several on different days so even if you only visit for a week you can easily find one. Traditional outdoor markets have been an essential part of Mexican culture since ancient times. We know that the Mexica culture and other civilizations in Mexico traded in the tianguis, which are open-air itinerant markets. They had a good barter system and cocoa was the official currency. The most famous ancient tianguis of the central area was that of Tlatelolco. When the Spaniards arrived in 1520, they were surprised by the number of people who gathered there. The first conquistadors narrated in their chronicles the attendance of well over 30 thousand visitors with intense conversations in different languages according to anthropologist Malva.

All the goods did not arrive only as tribute to the ruling Aztecs, but as merchandise to generate income for the seller’s family. Throughout the Aztec empire there was an intense and widespread trade that was mainly based on the open-air market where barter was practiced and at the same time various types of currency were used consisting of cocoa seeds, small tubes of cartilage with gold beans, pieces of copper or tin in the shape of the letter T and small cotton cloths.

Mexicans have continued to trade in the tianguis format for centuries despite the multiple influences of foreign influences. The continuation of outdoor trade is a deep rooted tradition that is the backbone of modern Mexican retail sales. Mexicans have continued to trade in the tianguis format for centuries despite the multiple infusion of foreign influences. The continuation of outdoor trade is a deep rooted tradition that is the backbone of modern Mexican retail sales. These markets were based on wooden crates where the goods could already be stored and carried by bus to various destinations.

Later commercial activities proliferated extending from the few large cites into the pueblas. Since the 17th century, the traditional items presented for sale include hand-made clothes, food, fresh produce, and all kinds of used goods are sold. Street vendors began traveling with their wares to the rural pueblas that didn’t have a variety of product available.

By the mid-twentieth century, barrio markets were already the basis of popular consumption and tianguis were the dominant type of domestic commerce in rural Mexico. Often regional tianguis markets began to develop their own specialty. With evolution of a Mexican middle class with disposable income in the late 1900s, the tianguis took second place to commercial stores and malls. The young modern Mexicanos prefer purchasing name brands rather than the hand crafted traditional items featured at tianguis.

No trip to Mexico is complete without visiting one of the area’s outdoor markets (tianguis). It is a relaxing way to experience a slice of Mexican culture, pick up a souvenir or gift and work up an appetite strolling around the market. Most forms of Mexican folk art are available at tianguis. Don’t miss out on the experience!