Pomuch, Mexico

History

Pomuch began as a settlement in the fifteenth century. It was known as Tixpokmuch, a name derived from the Maya terms tix, an onomatopoeia for the sound of dripping water; pok, imitating the sound of a toad falling; and much, meaning frog or toad. The name has been translated as "where the toads swim or splash". At one time it produced burial shrouds and lay along a Maya route to a nearby burial ground. The Spanish conquistador Francisco de Montejo founded San Francisco de Campeche, the future capital of the state of Campeche, in the sixteenth century and Pomuch came under its jurisdiction. Pomuch became part of the newly founded Hecelchakán municipality in 1916 before attaining the status of village in 2001.

The bakery El Pan de Pomuch ("Pomuch's Bread") was reputedly founded in the eighteenth century. The city became known for its traditional bread, with its three main bakeries playing a significant role in Day of the Dead celebrations. The town's position on the camino real (royal road) between Campeche and Mérida also played a role in attracting tourists to its Indigenous culture and artisanal bread. The tourism route included nearby villages such as Calkiní and Bécal.

From the History section of Pomuch on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.