Former Solidaridad Municipality Could Be Renamed Xaman-ha

The debate over the renaming of the municipality, currently known as "Solidaridad", to "Playa del Carmen" has taken a new turn. There are now efforts to include the pre-Hispanic name "Xaman-ha" in the public consultation. José Carlos González Anguiano, a former councilor of Solidaridad, pointed out that Playa del Carmen was originally known as Xaman-ha, a name that carries significant cultural relevance.

González Anguiano argued for the importance of recognizing the region's rich heritage. He noted, "The first point where the Spanish landed was in Xaman-ha, they even called it Xaman-ha de Salamanca. Although the first population was established in Polé, now known as Xcaret, it originated from Xaman-ha."

The Maya name Xaman-ha translates to "water of the north". It has been used to name schools, the city's theater, and civil institutions within the municipality. The name is well-recognized in the city due to efforts to promote the history of the locality. González Anguiano urged, "Let the name Xaman-ha be included in the consultation due to the importance of this place. Our history only started to be called Playa del Carmen in the 20th century, before that it was Xaman-ha, meaning 'water of the north', which refers to the Yucatan Channel."

The proposed name change has sparked considerable interest, particularly this year when the municipal president, Estefanía Mercado Asencio, announced the organization of informative forums. While many political figures have shown support for the name Playa del Carmen, a conservative faction insists on retaining the name Solidaridad, which has been in use since the territory's establishment on July 28, 1993.