The product of a powerful multi-ethnic culture, Oaxaca is a wonderful ethnic and cultural mosaic expressed in multiple languages, dances, songs, dress, customs and great diversity.
Oaxaca’s identity and values are apparent in their enthusiastic festivals full of mysticism, joy and color.
Guelaguetza Festival in Oaxaca
Among the numerous events celebrated in the eight regions of Oaxaca, the Guelaguetza is the most prominent. Every year it brings together the Oaxacan regions separated by immense mountain chains, deep gorges, virgin jungles, forests, open coast and desert plains.
The Guelaguetza celebration is shared by all Oaxacans. The Guelaguetza audience includes members of Oaxaca’s mixed cultures from 13,000 communities, 570 municipalities, 8 regions and 17 indigenous nations. The Gueleguetza Auditorium is the point of fusion and brotherhood through “flor y el canto” (flower and song) following the customs taught to every generation for more than three hundred years.
This celebration is about light and color, of the joy of being alive and living on, of fraternity and brotherhood. The main activities include music, dance, art and the feeling of a culture that proudly refuses to disappear. The spectacle of Guelaguetza is appreciated by more than 12,000 people who share the joy of uniting sky with earth, body with spirit, and the joy of being alive and the hope of living on.
The public completely gives itself over to this celebration of Spirit, arriving from distant places both inside and outside the country.
On the third and fourth Mondays of July, as dictated by tradition, the Oaxacans and their guests raise the steps of the “Cerro del Fortín” in the early morning hours. They arrive at the Guelaguetza Auditorium located in the “nariz” (nose) of a chain of hills that come off of the Sierra Norte.
The origins of this spectacle go back to the year 1700, when the natives of the valley turned this hill into their ceremonial center. They meet here every year to honor the gods, Centeótl, Xilomen and Huitzilopochtli.
The Guelaguetza is not to be missed!
Humánitas Festival
One of the more recognized festivals in Oaxaca is called “Humanitas, May Festivals” celebrated during the months of April and May. It presents a cultural encounter of cities that have similar races, costumes and folklore to foster human coexistence and the diversity that characterizes the regions of this state and the country.
The dances, music, art exhibits, painting and theater create the cultural mosaic of this festival. It has earned a great reputation for its high artistic content and for presenting the races of the town of Oaxaca in an excellent manner.
Instrumenta Oaxaca
Instrumenta Oaxaca is an offering of music in various senses. One aspect of the Program is presentations of important personalities from classical and cultural music, presenting concerts with sopranos, renowned troubadours, and world-class orchestra conductors. Another aspect is the conferences and classes taught by high-level music teachers.
The program is held every year with teachers from different countries who share their knowledge with students. Finally, the most outstanding students are chosen to perform a concert under the baton of the greatest music teachers in the world.
Top-level musicians from Mexico and other countries tutor 120 students between the ages of 18 and 33 on all the orchestra instruments (except for the harp and piano).
International Surfing Tournament
Another outstanding and important event is the International Surfing Tournament for professional surfers. This tournament has taken place for many years on Zicaleta Beach in Puerto Escondido and draws the greatest surfers from around the world. They arrive in August to challenge the great waves that break in this beautiful Mexican port.
