The Chinelo is the symbol of the morelense identity. Although it is in the town of Tepoztlán where greater opportunity exists to find it, chinelo is present in many other towns of Morelos, like Yautepec, Coacalco, Cuautlixco, Atlahuahuacán, Oaxtepec, Jojutla and Totolapan, as well as in certain towns of the state of Puebla. However, one knows that it arose in the mountainous town of Tlayacapan.

According to the House of the Culture of Tlayacapan, it was in 1870 when a group of native young people of the place, tired to see itself excluded from the celebrations of Carnival, since they themselves had to respect the uninformed one of cuaresma, organized one quadrilles, disguised itself with old clothes covering the face with a handkerchief (or piece of blanket) and began to shout, and jump by the streets of the town, making fun of of the Spaniards. This improvisation was great successful, and spoken much of that, as much that the following year it was organized of new account. He is as well as the personage took form from “huehuetzin”, Nahuatl word that means “person who gets dressed old clothes” (still some chinelos use this word to be called among them). Year after year, as it became more popular, the celebration it grew and the personage was evolved gradually. In order to represent the Spaniards beards were added to the masks and appeared the name of “chinelo”.

It is not really known how the indumentaria of chinelo was constructed, but in the form of the attire and of “I jump” same notices the sincretism of the old Moors dance and Christians, with “axcatzitzintin” (axcatzitzintin: pre-Hispanic rite that means “to jump to enjoy”). We also know that the word chinelo comes from the Nahuatl “tzineloa”, that it means “I wag of hip”.

The Chinelo’s dress are like tunicas that took the friars and are elaborated of velvet. The most popular colors of these tunicas are red and black. On the túnica they wear a layer embroidered with all classes of artificial jewels.

The Chinelo’s mask is elaborated with wire fabric, properly painted and with the form necessary to simulate a face. In this mask great eyes, abundant eyebrows are drawn, moustache, and a beard of pointed form is added to him. This type of mask was invented at the beginning of century XX, by Mr. Jose Maria Villamil. Also one says that this beard accentuates the influence of the magical kings.

The dance of the Chinelo is known as “the jump” because the dance consists of vibrant “zapateado” one that has like main step the “brincoteo.” Each “comparsa” (group) of Chinelos has a name and a Chinelo of each comparsa takes waving the flag that takes its name.