- Main traditional festivals of Mexico
- Day of the Dead: the most famous Mexican holiday in the world
- Festival of skulls
- San Marcos Fair
- Veracruz Carnival
- Guadalupana Day
- The Guelaguetza
- Mexican Independence Day
- Cinco de mayo festival
- October parties
- Festivities in honor of Santa Cecilia
- References
The traditional festivals of Mexico are a reflection of a culture made up of elements from various eras, from the ancient Mayan civilization to including contemporary American customs.
Mexico has become a country where its gastronomy, architecture and especially its festivals retain a captivating color and energy. Mexico has 68 different languages and dialects from diverse cultures, an Intangible Cultural Heritage recognized worldwide - its gastronomy - and the famous mariachi serenades.
Feast of the day of the dead
Two architectural jewels also stand out: the pyramid of Quetzalcóatl and that of the Sun in Teotihuacán. However, it is its traditional festivals that highlight its splendor. Religion is an important and highly present theme in each and every one of the Mexican national and regional festivals.
Mexican culture adopted the Mayan vision of death, perceiving it as a stage that deserves to be celebrated just like life, so it is openly accepted with great respect and humor. A clear example of this is presented by the most popular and oldest festival in Mexico: the Day of the Dead.
Main traditional festivals of Mexico
Day of the Dead: the most famous Mexican holiday in the world
It is celebrated from October 31 to November 2 throughout Mexico, dating back to pre-Hispanic times and having its roots in Mayan festivities where death was worshiped.
The objective of this celebration is to honor the dead in a joyful and very special way by placing precious altars decorated with special Cempasúchil flowers.
The celebration of Oaxaca is one of the most important and significant where it is customary to decorate the altars with several steps.
The first, which must go with a white tablecloth, represents adults and grandparents. While the rest of the steps are reserved for the other members of the family.
The altar is decorated with different representations of death, candles, crypts and skulls adorned with striking colors, as well as crosses made with yellow and purple papers that represent the union of life and death.
The preparations usually begin in mid-October when families begin to thoroughly clean their houses and the graves of their relatives, with the aim of guiding them and giving them peace and tranquility.
Throughout the entire festival, the streets are filled with music, beautiful altars and it is normal to eat sweet skulls and the famous "Pan de muerto", a delicious bread made with anise and orange.
During the festival, the National Museum of Mexican Art holds an exhibition of striking paintings depicting sepulchral figures such as skulls and skeletons.
The festival culminates on November 2 with the popular "Alumbrada" when the various altars are illuminated with thousands of candles in the National Pantheon.
Festival of skulls
Coinciding with the "Day of the Dead" festival, it is one of the best known festivals in all of Mexico.
Celebrated in Aguascalientes annually, it receives more than 850 thousand visitors who come to the place to witness the most colorful parades and tours made with people disguised as colorful skulls and skeletons who dance with music and candles visiting the different altars that are in their path.
Throughout the festival there are musical events and thousands of exhibitions, with the objective of paying tribute to the Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada, creator of the famous cadaverous figure "La Catrina".
Concluding with the popular night walk "Illuminate the feet of the dead" where you reach the Cerro del Muerto.
The tour is full of mysticism, legends and countless skull costumes, music and the best gastronomy.
San Marcos Fair
Considered one of the most important fairs in Mexico, it is held in mid-April, and attracts thousands of tourists for being one of the best artistic and cultural Mexican exhibitions.
The fair has been held for more than 180 years and is a famous bullfighting fair where the largest livestock exhibition in Latin America is presented, and multiple concerts and recreational activities are held.
The San Marcos neighborhood is full of color and fun to honor its patron while tasting the best Mexican cuisine.
Veracruz Carnival
Listed as the second most important carnival in all of Latin America after the popular carnival in Brazil.
During a week, the Jarocho port of Veracruz receives thousands of people from different parts of the world to witness incredible parades that run along the Manuel Ávila Camacho Boulevard, approximately 3.8 kilometers long.
The objective is to witness the colorful floats and the original masks that the different comparsas show. It is a week full of charm with music, lights and costumes.
Guadalupana Day
It is an important celebration where the patron saint of Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe, is worshiped.
The festival is celebrated every December 12, beginning the day before with the interpretation of the popular Mexican song “Las mañanitas”, sung by artists and parishioners, who begin a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the great Atrium of the Americas, considered one of the most fervid places on the continent.
The Guelaguetza
It receives that name thanks to the Zapotec word that means "to share."
It is one of the largest and most important festivals in the State of Oaxaca. During this festival, which is celebrated on the two Mondays after July 16, the different regions of the state come together to show their best costumes, food and typical dances.
It is a wonderful celebration full of music and dance that pays homage to Mexican culture in its maximum splendor, taking place in the famous Cerro del Fortín.
Mexican Independence Day
It is celebrated on September 16 and commemorates the moment in which in 1810 Mexico declared its independence for the first time through “El Grito”, the famous proclamation of independence made by Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla, who rang the bell of his church in the coastal city of Dolores to oppose the Spanish government in power.
On September 16, all city councils recreate the cry of Dolores and at dawn on the 15th and 16th the president recites the famous cry and waves the Mexican flag while singing the national anthem.
The cities are filled with fireworks, parades and dances while it is typical to consume tequila and the typical dish "Pozole", a soup made with pork and corn.
Cinco de mayo festival
Mexicans used to celebrate the famous "Battle of Puebla" every May 5, in which in 1862 a small force of Mexican soldiers and peasants defeated the huge French army that sought to seize the city of Puebla.
It is commemorated as a historic day with great symbolism, being considered the most important day of national pride in all of Mexico.
Allusive parades are held in Puebla and exhibitions and events are organized in several cities in the United States and worldwide to commemorate that day.
October parties
They constitute an important cultural festival that is celebrated in the state of Jalisco, Guadalajara. They start on the first Friday in October and end on the first Friday in November.
Throughout the month the different towns of Jalisco celebrate different concerts and exhibitions of dance, dance and painting are exhibited.
It is the perfect month to enjoy Mexican culture in all its splendor. The festival begins with the traditional parade of floats where mariachis and colorful floats brighten up the place.
Festivities in honor of Santa Cecilia
Santa Cecilia, patron saint of musicians and poets, is honored every November 22 worldwide.
Different musicians from various towns and places around the world gather to pay tribute to Santa Cecilia, and to mariachi rhythms and the popular song “Las mañanitas”, all of Mexico is filled with recreational and musical activities, perfect for those who enjoy a good ensemble. of mariachis.
References
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- Cinco de mayo, day of Mexican pride in the world. Retrieved on August 6, 2017 from excelsior.com.mx
- 9 things you did not know about Mexican culture. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from garzablancaresort.com.mx
- Culture and traditions. Retrieved on August 6, 2017 from universia.es
- Mexican culture. Retrieved on August 6, 2017 from donquijote.org
- Choat, I. Oaxaca Mexico: vivid art, joyous festivals and ant eggs fried in garlic. Retrieved on August 6, 2017 from theguardian.com
- Day of the Dead. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from donquijote.org
- Mexican Independence Day. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from donquijote.org
- Díaz, C. (2016). Day of the dead, a proudly Mexican tradition. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from blog.bestday.com.mx
- Díaz, C. (2013). Musicians celebrate Santa Cecilia in a big way. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from milenio.com/
- The carnival of Veracruz, the happiest in Mexico. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from revistabuenviaje.com
- Facts about Mexico. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from facts-about-mexico.com
- October parties. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from
- Guelaguetza. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from eluniversal.com.mx
- Hecht, J. Top 10 festivals and fiestas in Mexico. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from lonelyplanet.com
- History of the San Marcos Fair in Aguascalientes. Retrieved on August 7, 2017 from mexicodesconocido.com.mx.