"Amid music, dresses, make-up, flowers and colourful ribbons, men in Chiapa celebrate the Dance of the Chuntaes each January, a tradition that honours the female figure as part of the region’s largest and most important celebration - the Fiesta Grande of Chiapa de Corzo. Footage recorded on Friday shows participants wearing colourful dresses and skirts, perfectly made up, dancing to live music as they parade through the streets of Chiapa de Corzo in an atmosphere of joy and celebration. "It’s a very important festival for all of Chiapas. For all of us. Throughout the year, we plan and organise everything to come to the festival. Honestly, it’s something magical," said Cesar, one of the attendees. In Chiapas, the Chuntas or Chuntaes are men who dress and act as women, representing the indigenous maids of the colonial era, in honour of María de Angulo, a Spanish woman who helped the indigenous population during a famine. Her maids distributed food to those in need. "We are representing the maids of María de Angulo. It’s an honour for all of us, men dressed as women. It’s beautiful because we are representing the female figure,” added Cesar. 'Chunta' means 'servant' or 'maid' in the indigenous Chiapaneca language. It is believed that indigenous people disguised themselves as women to fight the Spanish without being identified and to symbolically serve during the festival. Locals say the tradition has survived thanks to generational transmission and the community's cultural pride. "I come with my wife and some grandchildren. We’ve been coming since they were very young, and we dress them as chuntas, and here we are," said Romeo Cutino, a festival attendee. “When you get informed, understanding why this is done, why you wear the dress and the outfit, then you start to understand the history a bit more, and you leave behind prejudices," said another participant. The Fiesta Grande of Chiapa de Corzo runs from January 4 to 23 this year, and will include Parachicos - dancers in wooden masks and ixtle wigs - who are recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."