- Outstanding customs and traditions of Xalapa
- Chili Peppers
- Procession of Silence
- Coffee Fair
- Festivities of San Jeronimo
- All saints and night of the dead
- Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe
- The branch
- References
Xalapa –or Jalapa- is the capital of the Mexican state of Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 350km east of Mexico City, the country's capital. Its current population amounts to 481,041 people.
It is a city where history and culture are united by its important institutions such as the Veracruz Museum of Anthropology, which keeps more than 3,000 years of history, contributions to Mexican gastronomy or the oldest symphony orchestra in Mexico.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Xalapa
In addition, Xalapa has a unique climate and geography for being located between the mountains of Veracruz and for being close to the Atlantic coast, which makes it a region full of the most varied and colorful flowers.
Outstanding customs and traditions of Xalapa
Chili Peppers
Xalapa is the traditional region of Mexico where the famous jalapeño peppers are produced and processed.
Its name comes from the name Jalapa, as the city is also called. This custom extends throughout the entire region of the state of Veracruz, the country and Latin America with the xalapeña brand.
Procession of Silence
Held on Saturday of Holy Week as a show of Faith, to remember the crucifixion of Christ.
The Xalapeños walk several kilometers inside the city in total silence and with lit candles, carrying the Holy Burial, a figure of Christ lying under the cross, made of solid wood and weighing 150 kilos.
Coffee Fair
Coatepec, located 8 kilometers from Xalapa, is a coffee producer par excellence in Mexico.
Since 1948, in the month of May this fair has been received not only to show the benefits of coffee in the region, but also as a great international festival of culture and art and other products such as flowers or crafts.
Festivities of San Jeronimo
Held on September 30 in honor of San Jeronimo, patron of Coatepec, metropolitan area of Xalapa.
It consists of the making of sand and sawdust carpets of various colors that adorn the passage of the procession.
Arches are also made with flowers from the region that can measure up to 12 meters.
All saints and night of the dead
Xalapa has an intense cultural life.
On November 1 and 2, in addition to making traditional altars to the dead, offering them bread, tamales and cempasúchil flowers, night walks are carried out through the city's pantheons where illustrious Xalapa figures rest.
The Mictlán Festival is also held, which addresses the game between the living and the dead with dance and theater.
Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe
In all of Mexico it is held on December 12, but in Xalapa it begins two days before with pilgrimages throughout the city.
Those in charge of carrying out are the workers and unions who walk with large wreaths of flowers between 3 and 5 meters high.
In this way, the typical Christmas atmosphere of December begins to be felt in Xalapa and all of Mexico.
The branch
A family custom of the Xalapeños and of much of the state of Veracruz. The Branch begins on the 16th and continues until the 23rd of December.
It is generally carried out by young people from 6 to 16 years old, who take a branch from a tree or bush, decorate it with balloons, Spanish moss, silver stars or shiny ornaments and perhaps a paper lamp.
They then go from house to house at night singing songs accompanied by a small drum and bottle caps on a wire as rattles.
References
- Illustration 2 "The King", Olmec Collection, Xalapa Museum of Anthropology
- Intercensal Survey 2015. National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI) of Mexico. Accessed August 8, 2017. Taken from beta.inegi.org.mx
- Tourist Regions. Secretary of Tourism and Culture of the state of Veracruz. Accessed August 8, 2017 on the site. Taken from veracruz.gob.mx
- Interactive Map of Mexico. National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI) of Mexico. Retrieved August 8, 2017 from beta.inegi.org.mx
- Fervor for the patronal feast in honor of San Jerónimo. UTRERA, JOSÉ ANTONIO. Chronicle of Xalapa. Consulted on August 8, 2017 on the site cronicadexalapa.com
- Jalapeña Christmas: A holiday in Xalapa. DUDLEY, ROY. Retrieved August 8, 2012 from the mexconnect.com site
- Jalapeña Christmas: A holiday in Xalapa. DUDLEY, ROY. Retrieved August 8, 2012 from the mexconnect.com site
- Photo Title: "The King". Year: 2006. Photographer: LORENA. Free Copyrigth. Downloaded from the site: flickr.com.