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.
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.
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.
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.
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Semana Santa, Holy Week, parade through the streets of Oaxaca
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Semana Santa, Holy Week in Oaxaca, is
highlighted by a parade on the Friday before
Easter. The parade starts at the 17th century
churches and moves about the colonial city in
silence as it recreates the hours before the
crucifixion.
highlighted by a parade on the Friday before
Easter. The parade starts at the 17th century
churches and moves about the colonial city in
silence as it recreates the hours before the
crucifixion.
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