Venetian Mexicans:

THE BIG MEN FROM CHIPILO

Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, 2014


Chipilo is a small Mexican village with 4000 inhabitants that was founded in 1882 by immigrants
from the northern italian region of Veneto. It is located in the state of Puebla.
Most of the people who live there came from the town of Segusino, Treviso, but also from the province of Belluno. On one hand, Venetians arrived in Mexico to leave behind their poverty; on the other, Mexico needed immigrants to repopulate the country after the Indipendence.
They needed people with agricultural skills, healthy and Catholic, and Venetians perfectly fitted the profile; during the years, they developed their skills in the production of cheese and founded
a thriving fornitures industry.
After 130 years, they are still speaking a Venetian dialect and keep alive some of the Venetian traditions, such as playing ‘bocce’ (bowls) or, on 6 of January, burning a witch made of straw in the main square of the village. Most people from this town have nicknames which travel on through generations.
The inhabitants of Chipilo (cipilegni) are very proud of their origins, but they acquired, over the years, many Mexican traditions too, and the result is a strange mixture between two different cultures.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Horsewomen during makeup, before their show at the Chipilo Fair.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Cipilegni (Inhabitats of Chipilo village) playing 'bocce' a traditional Venetian game, as every Sunday.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

A young man from Chipilo show his ancient rifle, which was used during the Mexican Revolution.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Mister Montagner Steffanoni, a farmer from Chipilo, with his peacock.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Mister Montagner Steffanoni, a farmer from Chipilo, with his doves.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Pilar Galeazzi pointing her grandmother on an old picture of the first immigrants of Chipilo.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Baseball players.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Horsewomen before their show at the Chipilo Fair.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

A Christmas tree behind a courtain in Chipilo.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014
Bridesmaids at a wedding with 800 guests.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

A wedding party in Chipilo with 800 guests.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 

Old men playing 'bocce', a traditional Venetian game.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 

A young man from Chipilo drinking on his friend's van during a birthday party.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 

Urban landscape.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 
A couple from Chipilo at home.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 

Julieta and Zago, a young couple from Chipilo.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 

Alvaro and a friend of him building a 'pinata', a traditional Mexican Christmas game.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 

Young girl posing during a photographic workshop in the thatre of Chipilo.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014 

Alvaro Montagner Steffanoni and a friend at a casting for a movie that will be shot in Chipilo by Mexican indie director Juan Carlos Blanco.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

Children at a horse show during the agricolture and breedind fair of Chipilo.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

A horse show during the agricolture and breedind fair of Chipilo.
Chipilo, Puebla, Mexico, November/December 2014

A horse show during the agricolture and breedind fair of Chipilo.
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