A Día de los Muertos wood carving at Zeny Fuentes Studio in Oaxaca; (c) Soul Of America
Oaxaca Festivals
In all Oaxaca Festivals you will find local artisans and handcrafts being promoted, live music and dancing, a busy zócalo, and the best authentic Mexican food. Here are a few notable festivals:
February 2: Feast of the Virgin of the Candelaria: Convite, novena, calenda, religious activities, fireworks, rosary of aurora (banners), procession, sports and cultural activities, popular dance, games, musica, mañanitas, popular antojitos.
March 21: Anniversary of the birth of Don Benito Juárez: It coincides with the beginning of Spring, is celebrated with civic, cultural and sports activities in Guelatao, a town in the Sierra where Benemérito was born.
May 1: Tortilla Fair: Sample and contest about the elaboration of products based on corn.
July: Every year during the last two Mondays of the month of July the Guelaguetza, known as Fiesta de los Mondays del Cerro, is celebrated. The Oaxaca Festival to end all Oaxaca Festivals. All the regions of the state show their best dances in the Guelaguetza Auditorium located in the Cerro del Fortín, accompanied by a wonderful panoramic view of the city. The current festival of the “Lunes del Cerro” refers to the end of the 15th century; its origin is derived from the celebration of pre-Hispanic worship rites and petition to the Aztec protection goddess of corn “Centeocihuatl” or “Centeotl”.
From 1951, the “Monday of the Hill” festivities adopt the popular term of “La Guelaguetza”, because the regional delegations usually bring, to give to the public; craft products, fruits and drinks, in addition to their music and dances during this Oaxaca Festival.
August 31: Blessing of animals: What makes the blessing unique in Oaxaca, is the custom of bringing animals in human attire adorned with flowers.
October 4: San Francisco de Asis: It is one of the few festivals that have remained without ups and downs, because the Third Franciscan Order, actively participates in the organization of profane and religious celebrations.
November 1: Día de los Muertos is a day to “Welcome the Dead”, the custom is to give relatives and friends of the family a gifted sample of the dishes that make up the offering of the dead. The delivery is done house by house. This day the “little angels” are venerated, that is, the relatives who died as children.
November 2: All Saints and the Faithful Dead are venerated.
On that date some pray for their past relatives, others go to the cemeteries to adorn the graves that remain in the pantheons, thus elaborating the altars of the dead.
December 12: Festivity of the Virgin of Guadalupe: Undoubtedly the Mexican party par excellence, is celebrated in Oaxaca with joy and splendor, significantly in its diocesan sanctuary.
December 23: Night of radishes is celebrated on December 23 in the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo of the city of Oaxaca). The Contest of Figures made from Radishes, Immortal Flower and Totomoxtle takes place starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución.
December 31: New Year’s Eve
