Jocotitlán was considered holy by the Mazahua and Otomi peoples. The former called it Nguemore (sacred mountain), while the latter called it Gumidi (he who sits facing straight forward). In Pre-Columbian Mexico, the volcano held a sanctuary for Otontecuhtli, the Otomi king of the gods, also known to the Nahua people as fire god Xiuhtecuhtli. The volcano has also held a Catholic chapel since the 1980s. At , it is probably one of the highest chapels in Mexico.