Oaxaca Easter, Lent, Semana Santa Festival in Mexico
Oaxaca, Easter, Lent, and Semana Santa  or Holy Week, are days most
significant in Oaxaca City.   During the four weeks of lent the city
stages concerts, dances and food events each weekend.
Oaxaca stands
unique among world
cities because of the
indigenous
population living in
the mountains
surrounding the
capitol city. There are
11 or so languages
still spoken within the
mountainous state
and many ancient
rituals still practiced.  
Oaxaca City, Mexico is surrounded by mountains that rise to nearly ten thousand feet.  The
settlement was established in a valley at 5000 feet and the surrounding mountains have isolated the
villages somewhat and perpetuated the speaking of the ancient languages and the practice of the old
customs.
Oaxaca Bus Service now connects the city with nearly every village and provides a way for the
people of the mountains to visit the city and for visitors to Oaxaca to travel to the remote places.
Often the bus will make one trip over the mountain roads to the village and park for the night, returning
to Oaxaca City the following day. Most of the villages in the mountains have some sort of lodging for
visitors.
Oaxaca's
Guelaguetza:  
On Saturday before
Easter, performers
demonstrate the
regional dances
from Oaxaca's
seven regions of
geographic and
cultural differences.
Oaxaca's Days of the Dead: Another important event in the life of Oaxaca is the Day Of
The Dead ritual. Actually two or three Days of the Dead but the action takes place at night in
the cemeteries of the villages and in the Panteon General in the city. Usually starting on the
last day of October and lasting for two nightly vigils in the cemeteries as families clean and
decorate their family plots and tombs in anticipation of the return of the spirits.
Oaxaca's Night of the Radishes: Only in Oaxaca can one find this unique competition in
the carving of huge radishes to create exorbitant sculptures that go on display in the
Zocalo on December 23 and are judged for money prizes. The stakes are big and some
of Oaxaca's best artists and artisans will compete by making incredible carvings and
sculptures done with the lowly radish.
Oaxaca at Christmas: The city hosts so many visitors that the ATM machines run out of
cash.. Beginning with the several Virgin's days on December 8th: Guadeloupe,Juquila,
Soledad, and right up until the three Kings some time in January the festivals continue.
Oaxaca loves to party
Semana Santa in Oaxaca on the Friday before Easter a silent parade through the streets
re-enacts the carrying of the cross by Christ .
Other Events in Oaxaca
Oaxaca's Culinary Art Institute demonstrates ice carving and decoration.
In Oaxaca
during lent
and the lead
up to
Semana
Santa and
Easter, the
regional
dances, art
gallery
openings, and
food events
make the city
a lively place.
This combining of the colonial Spanish, modern European, and indigenous culture
gives Oaxaca a flair for art and spectacle unique in the world.
During Oaxaca's Easter, lent, and particularly during the last week of lent, Semana
Santa, or Holy Week,  this diversity is celebrated in cultural dance, costumed
performance, and regional food.
Oaxaca's Easter, Lent, Semana Santa Festival starts with lent festivals
Oaxaca Cooking School students demonstrate skill during Easter,
Lent, Semana Santa Festival
Oaxaca Santo Domingo church ready for Easter, Lent, Semana Santa Festival and parade
Custom Search