This ancient ritual is believed to have originated with the Nahua, Huastec and Otomi people in central Mexico. The flyers dance and then climb a 30-meter pole from which they later launch themselves descending to the ground.
This was a way for ancient Mesoamericans to ask the gods to end severe droughts.
With time this ritual has been adopted by the Totonac people and can be seen in the Mexican state of Veracruz, especially in places near Papantla.
The men who inact this ritual in modern Mexico are often called Voladores de Papantla (Flyers of Papantla) and the ritual was named intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
