OAXACA’S SPECIAL ANNUAL FESTIVALS ARE GREAT TIMES TO VISIT!
Oaxaca de Juarez (simply called “Oaxaca”) is the amazing city and capital of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico and also the culture center of this vast state. Oaxaca has an incredible offering of annual cultural, traditional, and religious festivals and events. Hardly a day, let alone a week, goes by on the calendar where there is not some special event that can be enjoyed by the residents and visitors of this city. The majority of these events are not only open to the public, but are free of charge. The challenge to the resident, and also to the visitor, is often choosing between the large amount of things to see and do at a given time. The following is a list of the most anticipated and enjoyed annual festivals in Oaxaca which we especially enjoy. Keep in mind that the same annual festivals and celebrations that occur in the City of Oaxaca also take place all over the state along with the fiesta of each local patron saint. The following events are arranged in chronological order.
SEMANA SANTA
The spring celebration that draws thousands of visitors, both nationals and international, is SEMANA SANTA, the week before Easter Sunday. The entire forty days of Lent are packed with religious pageantry in Oaxaca and surrounding towns. The crowning event, however, is the Silent Procession on the evening of Good Friday wherein each of the twenty local churches and their members participate in a huge candle light procession. . It is a very moving and beautiful event. On Good Friday a passion play also takes place in the nearby pueblo of Zaachila. Oaxaca’s unique cultural mix is evident in the indigenous Danza de la Pluma, Dance of the Feathers, which is held at Carmen Alto Church on Easter Sunday. Please see links at the bottom of this posting.
GUELAGUETZA FESTIVAL
The Guelaguetza is Oaxaca’s huge folkloric dance festival which is held on the two successive Mondays following the national holiday commemorating the death of Mexico’s indigenous former President, Benito Juarez, who was a native of Oaxaca. Indigenous groups from the seven regions of Oaxaca State flood the city to present their traditional music and dances in stunning and colorful costumes. Guelaguetza is still practiced in the villages around Oaxaca and is celebrated once a year, usually on the last two Mondays in July. Locally it is sometimes referred to as Lunes de Cerro (Monday on the Hill). The fiesta is held at Cerro del FortÃn, an amphitheater which offers magnificent views of the city. Oaxaca is always crowded at this time because of the popularity of this fiesta. Most visitors are from Mexico's larger cities and from Europe although it is becoming more and more popular with North Americans.
The fiesta is also in honor of Centeotl, the goddess of corn. Even missionaries incorporated it into the celebration of the Virgin of El Carmen in the middle of July. Since 1932 (Oaxaca’s 400th anniversary) groups from the seven regions of the valley of Oaxaca have presented carefully chosen dances with local characteristics and regional dress at this annual festival. During the dances, to symbolize the commitment to sharing, local gifts are tossed to the crowd.
The two dates for this year’s two show presentations are Monday, July 20, 2009 and Monday, July 27, 2009 (please confirm when making reservations!). It is a week packed with festivities and advance hotel and show tickets should be booked in advance. See links at the bottom of this posting.
EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
At the end of October each year, visitors flood Oaxaca for El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. This is a traditional and indigenous event reflecting a uniquely Mexican view of life and earth which is a joyful rather than a somber time. Imaginative skeletons, beautiful sand paints, flowers (especially marigolds), candles, unique candies in the shape of skulls, special foods which were favorites of the deceased, and home-made altars and offerings appear everywhere as residents prepared to commune with loved ones who have died. The most touching period starts in the late afternoon of October 31st. That’s when angelitos, “the little angles” or dead children, revisit their families. From then until the afternoon of November 2nd, families gather in cemeteries, decorate the graves of deceased relatives, and bring food, drink, and special favorite objects of the deceased to share with their faithful dead. Visitors can experience this pre-Hispanic tradition at burial grounds in the nearby towns of Xoxocotlan, Santa Maria Atzompa, Zaachila, San Antonio, Etla, and San Felipe del Agua. Oaxaca’s San Miguel Cemetery also has an observance, but it is much lower-key. Please see links at the bottom of this posting.
CRISTMAS SEASON
Oaxaca is truly magical during the Christmas season when the zocalo (main plaza) is decorated with giant living poinsettia trees and the days are warm and sunny with cool and crisp evenings. The churches are festooned with gorgeous fresh flowers and the spirit of the season is all around the city. Many of Oaxaca’s churches sponsor lovely candle t processions led by children dressed as Mary and Joseph and accompanied with musicians and fireworks. The Virgen de la Soledad, Oaxaca’s patron, is celebrated up to and including December 18th when a special parade takes place around the Soledad Basilica where the area is packed with stands selling foods and crafts. On the evening leading up to and including Noche Buena (Christmas Eve), churches and other groups sponsor posadas (the reenactment of the faithful going from door to door carrying candles, singing traditional Christmas songs, and asking for posada (shelter). Colorful floats from all of the city parishes arrive at the zocalo around 9:00 PM on Christmas Eve.
Oaxaca’s pre-Christmas festivities also include the famous and not-to-be-missed Noche de Rabanos, Night of the Radishes. On December 23rd starting in the afternoon until late that night, the entire zocalo is taken over by a multitude of display tables which are covered with imaginative and unique creations fashioned entirely of carved giant radishes, corn husks, or dried straw flowers. The hand-made creations made for viewing and judging include scenes of processions, village festivals, churches, farmers, musicians, and nativity scenes. This festival is truly one-of-a-kind and not to be found anywhere else! Please see our photographs in the album included with this blog.
The above annual festivals are the largest of the many celebrations in Oaxaca City and our favorites. However, there are countless other fiestas and events in Oaxaca at all times of the year. With so much to see and do in Oaxaca, it is truly amazing how the residents have learned to balance the daily responsibilities of life with that of participating in their traditional festivals. I have listed numerous links below for your exploration which will give you much more detailed information and much more reason to come and visit the wonders of Oaxaca! I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND MAKING HOTEL RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE OF ARRIVAL WHEN PLANNING TO VISIT THE CITY OF OAXACA DURING ANY OF THE ABOVE FESTIVAL PERIODS! I would enjoy hearing from you if you should have any questions, comments, or suggestions. Until then, gracias! Laura
VERY GOOD WEB SITE FOR CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DESCRIPTIONS IN OAXACA:
http://www.oaxacainfo.com/
VERY GOOD OAXACA WEB SITES WITH TONS OF INFORMATION:
http://gomexico.about.com/od/
www.mexperience.com/guide/
http://www.oaxacaoaxaca.com/
PLEASE REFER TO MY TWO PREV IOUS POSTINGS FOR MORE LINKS AND SUGGESTIONS:
“Welcome to Wonderful Oaxaca City” dated April 2, 2009
“Oaxaca City: More Things to do and See” dated April 4, 2009
