Semana Santa, Holy Week, Oaxaca, Mexico
Semana Santa (Holy
Week) in Oaxaca is one of
the city's most important
religious festivals and
combines the religion
brought by the Spanish
colonists in the 1520s with
some of the lingering
indigenous practices.
From the European style
churches, many built in the
1600s, parades and
spectacles take place in the
preserved colonial center of
the city, an area of colonial
buildings and churches.
Week) in Oaxaca is one of
the city's most important
religious festivals and
combines the religion
brought by the Spanish
colonists in the 1520s with
some of the lingering
indigenous practices.
From the European style
churches, many built in the
1600s, parades and
spectacles take place in the
preserved colonial center of
the city, an area of colonial
buildings and churches.
Oaxaca stands unique among world cities because of its
thriving indigenous population. There 11 or so indigenous
languages still spoken in the mountain villages. This
combining of the colonial Spanish, modern European, and
indigenous culture gives Oaxaca a flair for art and spectacle
unique in the world.
thriving indigenous population. There 11 or so indigenous
languages still spoken in the mountain villages. This
combining of the colonial Spanish, modern European, and
indigenous culture gives Oaxaca a flair for art and spectacle
unique in the world.
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.
Buses in some instances make a one way trip, returning to Oaxaca City the following day. Most of
the villages in the mountains have some sort of lodging for visitors.
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.
Buses in some instances make a one way trip, 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, areas of geographic and cultural difference.
regional dances from Oaxaca's seven regions, areas of geographic and cultural difference.
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.
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.
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 in January the festivals continue. Oaxaca loves to party
Beginning with the several Virgin's days on December 8th: Guadeloupe,Juquila, Soledad, and right up until
the three Kings 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 .
re-enacts the carrying of the cross by Christ .
Other Events in Oaxaca
Church officials and police block several streets for the parade which
includes the passage of statues taken from the churches.
includes the passage of statues taken from the churches.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
More Info
Tourist Information Center
Secretaria de Tourismo
Colonial Center,Oaxaca
Tel. 951-516-0123
How to Get There
From the Zocalo go north to the Llano Park and
the theatre building at 703, the office is on the
right side of the building.
Tourist Information Center
Secretaria de Tourismo
Colonial Center,Oaxaca
Tel. 951-516-0123
How to Get There
From the Zocalo go north to the Llano Park and
the theatre building at 703, the office is on the
right side of the building.
Oaxaca City is great for walkers with its pedestrian-only streets. The Colonial city also
and has many attractions and cultural tours for vacationers.
While the Euro could prevent a family vacation to Paris this year, Oaxaca City is just as
walkable and full of culture and history.
In Oaxaca City you'll find art museums, restaurants, biking, walking in the parks and
hills and many ancient archaeological ruins near the city.
Boutique hotels, Inns called posadas and historic buildings converted to hotels and B&Bs
make Oaxaca City a good choice for a vacation.
Reached within a day's flight from US or Canadian cities, Oaxaca is well located in the
5000 foot mountains giving it a perfect climate
and has many attractions and cultural tours for vacationers.
While the Euro could prevent a family vacation to Paris this year, Oaxaca City is just as
walkable and full of culture and history.
In Oaxaca City you'll find art museums, restaurants, biking, walking in the parks and
hills and many ancient archaeological ruins near the city.
Boutique hotels, Inns called posadas and historic buildings converted to hotels and B&Bs
make Oaxaca City a good choice for a vacation.
Reached within a day's flight from US or Canadian cities, Oaxaca is well located in the
5000 foot mountains giving it a perfect climate
Custom Search
Semana Santa, Holy Week, parade through the streets of Oaxaca
Custom Search
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  |