San Sebastián Teitipac

Teitipac lies on the Tlacolula branch of the Central Valleys at 1,604 m, at the foot of land that climbs to 2,600 m. It is said to have been founded around 1370 by descendants of Zapotecs, and to have first been called San Sebastián de las Flores for the flowers around a spring. Two rivers, the Río Seco and the Río Grande, cross the municipality, which has 8 localities and about 31 km².

The church of San Sebastián dates from the 17th century and stands out for its mottled red quarry stone. The municipality also has the archaeological site of El Popote, with Monte Albán II and V phases. The town is governed by usos y costumbres and changes authorities every three years; about 486 people speak Zapotec. The population was 987 in 1900, peaked at 2,043 in 1980 and was 1,857 in 2020.

Stone and reed are the local crafts: artisans carve metates and molcajetes from quarried stone, and weave baskets and chiquihuites. The fields give maize, beans and chickpeas. Local cooking includes mole, higadito, molcajete salsas, banana-leaf tamales, nicuatole, champurrado and tejate prepared on a metate.

The patron saint's fiestas are on 20 January, San Sebastián Mártir, and 8 December, with a procession, fireworks, a rodeo and a closing dance. At Día de Muertos altars are set up and the municipal cemetery is visited.