THE 10 MOST POPULAR TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF SINALOA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The traditions and customs of Sinaloa, located in Mexico, are highly respected and are mostly based on their ancient indigenous culture. Mainly, their traditions are based on festivals that are celebrated annually, although they also have a great history of crafts and music.

The coasts, valleys and mountains allow a wide range of activities to be carried out in this region. In this territory you can find semi-desert areas, wooded areas of the Sierra Madre, large rivers, and a fairly large coastline.

This region is home to the Mayan group, which still carries out and continues to maintain many traditions of that ancient culture. The most popular regions of Sinaloa include El Fuerte, Mochicahui, Choix, Mazatlán, Ahome, Rosario, and Sinaloa de Leyva.

Annually, the municipalities of the State of Sinaloa celebrate festivals and cultural events in honor of the local saints, and to celebrate the cultivation of agricultural and marine products that are produced in the region.

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List of traditions

1- Mazatlan Carnival

The Mazatlán carnival was officially inaugurated in the year 1898, being a tradition with more than 120 years. The festival is celebrated during the week before Lent. The modern Mazatlán carnival is the third largest carnival celebration in the world.

It is considered the largest celebration in this port of Sinaloa. Unlike other carnivals, the music of this event focuses on band music and the tambora.

Additionally, within the framework of the carnival, other cultural events such as the Floral Games are held.

This carnival involves parades, fireworks, live music, food, street entertainment in the historic center, on the boardwalk, and throughout various locations throughout Mazatlán.

2- Spring Festival

It is celebrated in April-May in the Concordia region, mainly in the town of La Concepción and Rosario. These festivities generally last for more than a week. As a tradition, the first day of these celebrations is dedicated to children.

As part of this celebration, a number of games are held, the queen of the fair is crowned, a parade is held, and various musical groups perform.

3-

Sinaloa is quite popular for its great production of handicrafts. In the El Fuerte region, double hats are made with a fairly fine fabric that are quite popular and traditional in this region.

4- Festival of the Villa de San Felipe and Santiago De Sinaloa

May 1 is usually celebrated with music, dances, and fireworks in the municipality of Sinaloa. This festival commemorates the founding of the settlement of the Villa de San Felipe and Santiago de Sinaloa, today known as Sinaloa de Leyva.

Within the framework of this festival, parades, music, theater, dance, exhibitions, conferences, sports, popular festivals, and ecology are contemplated. It has been celebrated for more than 20 years.

5- Ulama

This ball sport is played in some communities in the State of Sinaloa. It is descended from the Aztec version of the Mesoamerican ball game; the game is one of the oldest continuously played sports in the world and is notable for the fact that it is the oldest known game to use a rubber ball.

The modern version of this game has three varieties; They are played on temporary courts and played in teams.

This game was practiced by many Mesoamerican cultures; however due to religious aspects the Spanish suppressed the game during the Spanish conquest. However, the game was able to survive in areas like Sinaloa where Spanish influence was less dominant.

6- Sinaloa Arts Fair

The Sinaloa festival of the arts evolved into the Sinaloa arts fair, with the purpose of implementing a policy that would extend and facilitate access to cultural goods and services for the entire Sinaloa population.

In that this fair wants to express the artistic relevance of this region; offers a variety of activities including performances that can be enjoyed in the streets, squares and theaters.

7- The chilorio

This pork-based dish is traditional from the State of Sinaloa. Chilorio is generally made from fried pork in a chilli sauce.

When chilorio is made, the pork should be simmered for hours until it falls apart. It is then broken into smaller pieces, deep-fried in butter, and cooked in a chili sauce made from rehydrated dried chilies. The sauce is usually flavored with onions, cumin, and garlic.

8- El Fuerte craft fair

This fair takes place from November 15 to 23. This celebration includes both dances and artistic and cultural displays. This region of Sinaloa is well known for its indigenous Yoremes traditions and crafts.

Almost all the handicrafts are made by Yoremes; You can highlight the wool blankets of the Alameda, the clay pots made in Capomos, carved figures from Mochicahui, and typical clothing used by the Mayan culture in religious activities.

Some of the most well-known craft activities in this town include basketry, furniture, Palm weaving, pottery, cabinetmaking, and textiles.

9- Sinaloan band or Sinaloan tambora

It is a musical ensemble that was created in the mid-1920s in Sinaloa. This musical genre has a European influence, specifically from the European fanfare.

This genre can take the forms of rancheras, polkas, corridos, traditional sones, waltzes and mazurka, but with a great sensibility from Sinaloa.

Some of the instruments that create this musical genre include the clarinet, tuba, double bass, trumpet, bass, drum, trombone, and cymbals.

The tambora or Sinaloa band is of vital importance to the folklore and traditions of Sinaloa; This music has a particular stamp that differentiates it from other music created in other Mexican regions.

10- Navy Day

On July 1, the day of the Navy is celebrated, therefore the ports of Topolobampo, Altata, la Reforma, Teacapán and Mazatlán hold celebrations for fishermen and sailors. These celebrations include traditional dances, live music, and various events.

You may be interested 9 Customs and Traditions of Chihuahua (Mexico).

References

1. Festivals and traditions in Mexico Sinaloa. Recovered from backpackz0blogspot.com.
2. 429 anniversary of the Villa de San Felipe and Santiago de Sinaloa (2016). Recovered from lavozdelnorte.com.mx.
3. Customs and traditions in Meet Sinaloa (2011). Recovered from Conocesinaloa.blogspot.com.
4. Ulama. Recovered from wikipedia.org.
5. Spring Fair in El Rosario. Recovered from lineadirectaportal.com.
6. Sinaloa cultural festival. Recovered from culturamazatlan.com.
7. Mazatlán Carnaval 2018. Recovered from mazatlantoday.net.
8. Traditional festivals of Sinaloa. Recovered from ecured.cu.
9. Brief history of the Sinaloan band. Recovered from sheet music parabandas.galeon.com.
10. Chilorio. Recovered from wikipedia.org.
11. The strong. A colonial vestige (2016). Recovered from tusbuenasnoticias.com.