CULTURE OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The culture of Baja California Sur has been strongly influenced by Catholic evangelization, since the colonization process eradicated the indigenous traditions of the natives of the Baja California Peninsula.

Consequently, the main local festivities and artistic, dance, gastronomic and artisanal representations of the state of Baja California Sur have a strong religious tinge.

You may also be interested in the history of this state.

Cultural Manifestations of Baja California Sur

Each town in Baja California Sur honors its local patron, within the framework of characteristic Mexican traditions such as cockfighting, horse racing and rancheras.

1- The Pitahaya Flower

It is a dance performed only by women, in which to the rhythm of traditional music, a choreography is carried out alternating formations on stage, along with a characteristic zapateado.

The Pitahaya Flower dress consists of a red flared skirt with a large engraving of the Pitaya, a cactus that gives rise to the homonymous fruit, highly demanded in the region.

2- Patron Saint Festivities of San José del Cabo

Every year, from March 14 to 19, the festivities of San José take place in San José del Cabo, in the Los Cabos municipality.

There, numerous artists meet, who show their talent in representative stages of the area, among which the town theater and the palenque stand out.

In addition, various sports activities take place such as fishing, livestock exhibitions, horseback riding, etc. All in the religious framework of the celebration of Saint Joseph's Day.

3- La Cuera

The dance of La Cuera is represented only by men, who dance leaning on the left foot and mobilizing the right foot to the rhythm of the music.

When executing this dance, the knights use the indigenous clothing of the area, which is given by a closed coat made of deerskin or cattle.

They also wear a hat of the same material, a large scarf around the neck, pointed shoes, gaiters, spurs, and wine in hand.

4- Celebration of the foundation of La Paz

Since 1936, the city of La Paz commemorates the anniversary of its foundation, which took place on May 3, 1535, at the hands of the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés.

From May 3 to 5, the celebration activities take place, which includes musical presentations, dance performances, the staging of plays, gastronomic exhibitions, among other cultural activities.

5- Patron Saint Festivities of San Francisco Javier

Every year, from December 1 to 3, traditional festivals are held in honor of San Francisco Javier, the patron saint of the municipality of Loreto, in Baja California Sur.

The pilgrims take vows of faith making a parade from the San Telmo bridge to the community of San Javier, in a 32-kilometer journey.

Other parishioners choose to take a walking tour from the city of Loreto to the mission of San Francisco Javier de Viggé Biaundó, 35 kilometers south of the city.

6- Typical crafts

The handicrafts based on Chinese stick, cardón, abalone shell, burro snail and choya is one of the most significant cultural representations of Baja California Sur.

In the five municipalities you can see all kinds of creations with palms and leather. Even more recently, the artisans of the sector have incorporated the practice of recycling into their creations.

References

1. Baja California Sur (sf). Recovered from: esdanzablog.wordpress.com
2. Baja California Sur (sf). Encyclopedia of the municipalities and delegations of Mexico. Recovered from: siglo.inafed.gob.mx
3. Culture of Baja California Sur (nd). Recovered from: explorandomexico.com.mx
4. La Paz city foundation festivities (nd). Recovered from: sic.gob.mx
5. Traditional Festivities San José del Cabo 2017 (2017). Recovered from: Dondehayferia.com
6. Leetch, T. (nd). The festivities of San Javier. Recovered from: los-cabos.com.mx
7. Medrano, G. (2015). La Paz, Baja California Sur, celebrates 480 years of having been founded. Recovered from: imagenradio.com.mx
8. Orneluce, X. (2014). Typical dances of Baja California Sur. Recovered from: bailestipicosbcsur.blogspot.com
9. Villalobos, R. (2016). Today the traditional festivals begin in San Javier. El Sudcaliforniano newspaper. Baja California Sur, Mexico. Recovered from: elsudcaliforniano.com.mx