Visit Oaxaca this July to experience the color and culture of La Guelaguetza
Monday, 12th April 2010
Now one of Mexico’s biggest cultural events, La Guelaguetza is a celebration of the music, dance, costume, craft and gastronomy of the eight regions that make up the state of Oaxaca.
The state of Oaxaca is home to 16 different ethno-linguistic groups and as such is incredibly diverse. Representatives from all groups gather at this annual festival to show off their traditional clothing and to perform folk dances – at the end of the dancing they throw items into the crowd that come from the region they represent.
The name of the festival, La Guelaguetza, is Zapotecan and means ‘offering’ in the Zapotec language. The celebration dates back to pre-Columbian times, when it centred primarily around the worship of corn. Like so many pre-Columbian traditions in Mexico though, the festival was given a Catholic ‘spin’ after the conquest, and the Guelaguetza became a celebration in honor of the Virgin del Carmen.
After a strong earthquake in the 1920s destroyed a large part of the city, the festival was re-organized as a state-wide cultural event to help boost the population’s morale. It was at this point that it began to take on a more modern form.
Every year a young woman from one of the communities of Oaxaca state is chosen to represent Centeotl, the corn goddess. This is not seen as a beauty contest, rather a competition to see which young woman is most knowledgeable about the traditions of her community. There are many other events that take place in Oaxaca during the two weeks of the Guelaguetza festival too, including concerts, exhibits and conferences.
There are also independent celebrations of the Guelaguetza in several villages near Oaxaca where you can witness more traditional festivities.
The celebration takes place on consecutive Mondays at the end of July in towns around the state and in the capital city’s open-air amphitheatre built into the “Cerro del Fortín”, a hill that overlooks central Oaxaca.
Taking a language course in Oaxaca during the Guelaguezata will give you a priviliged insight into the traditions and culture of the people of the region, and will guarantee you a really fun time - be sure not to miss it!
If you want to brush up your Spanish skills prior to a trip to Mexico, Cactus offers part-time and intensive Spanish courses in a range of UK and US locations. Alternatively, head out to Mexico a week or two early and sign up for one of our Spanish language courses in one of these fantastic destinations: Cuernavaca, Guanajuato, Merida, Mexico City, Morelia, Oaxaca, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta.
Tags: spanish, culture, festival, mexico, language, oaxaca
Posted by Laura Harrison under Experience Cultures,
Permalink
