The country’s financial crisis hit the textile industry hard as the price of raw materials skyrocketed, forcing artisans out of business. Some fear the loss of the centuries-old art.
The nomadic pastime, in which people compete to break thick animal bones in half with only their hand, carries dire risks for the untrained. That hasn’t slowed its popularity.
Globalization makes it difficult to know where products originate, but geographical indications could protect the link between Oaxaca and its traditional crafts.