Concepción Chimalpa

Concepción Chimalpa is the most populous locality in the municipality of Acuamanala de Miguel Hidalgo: the 2020 census counted 2,228 people, more than the municipal seat itself, which had 1,911. It sits at about 2,300 metres above sea level, almost touching Acuamanala (under a kilometre to the south) and surrounded by farmland on the lower slopes of La Malintzi. The name comes from Nahuatl, chimalli, shield, and pan, on or over, usually rendered as "on the shields". The "Concepción" part refers to its patron, the Immaculate Conception.

Its history is tied to Acuamanala's. During the Franciscan evangelisation Acuamanala was a visiting church of Tepeyanco, and in Chimalpa the villagers built a chapel to the Concepción that the Enciclopedia de los Municipios singles out for its simplicity. It still stands on the Camino Real: a stone bell gable trimmed with red brick, a yellow façade and a porch under a metal roof. After the Revolution, Chimalpa, Ayometitla, Quilehtla and the Espíritu Santo ranch were split off from Teolocholco to form the municipality of Miguel Hidalgo, with its seat at Acuamanala.

Carnival is the most visible local tradition. In the municipality charros and chivarrudos dance, and the huehue troupes perform French quadrilles to a wind orchestra; the chivarrudos use a small huehuetl whose rhythm recalls a horse's trot and trade verses learned by word of mouth. The municipality has pyrotechnics workshops making rockets, castles and toritos, and the table is known for mole prieto, hand-made blue tortillas and pulque.