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The
FIESTAS
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of the Virgin of Guadalupe, on December 12th annually, is the most important religeous festival in the country; the only religeous festival that attracts more pilgrims is the muslim festival of 'hadj,' celebrated in Mecca.
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of Mexico are famous the world over. Mexico is known world wide for its astonishing cultures, and of course the fiestas form an integral part of the country's cultural offering.
The festival celebrated in Mexico City, the Day
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Patriotic Fiestas |
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The whole nation celebrates, on the 15th and 16th of September, the patriotic festivals, in commemoration of Mexico's Independence, which began in 1810 when the Father of Patriotism, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, called the population to arms and was finally acheived 11 years later, at a cost of 300,000 deaths.
The Bicentenary of Mexico's Independence, after 300 years of being under the orders of the Spanish, will be celebrated in the year 2010, when there is to be great festivities.
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Day of the Dead |
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Among the most important celebrations in the country, those dedicated to the dead are high on the list, and they are: All Saints Day and the Faithful Dead, as a result of the union between the two cultural traditions, the indigenuos and the Spanish.
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In most of the country the festivities coincide with the end of the agricultural cycle of several products such as maize and la calabaza.
The Pre-hispanic tradition signals that in the indigenous ritual followed by the Nahuatl group there were festivities dedicated to the cult of the dead.
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Many people paint their faces with the two aspects:
life and death
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The fiesta dedicated to the child deaths (Miccailhuitontli) which was celebrated in the ninth month of the Nahuatl calender and was equivalent to August in the Christian calender.
Meanwhile, the fiesta for the adult dead was celebrated in the tenth month.
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Rites and Myths related to Death in Mexico |
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Two types of Offerings
During the pre-Hispanic era, the alter dedicated to death went under the name of Tzompantli, this day was dedicated to the Godess Coaticlue (Mother of the Gods), the one which does everything and undoes everything. During those times the alter was built in the form of a pyramid which was covered with dyed paper of different colours.
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With the arrival of the Spanish and Christianity sveral of these customs were changed and underwent a mixing process.
In some of the three-tiered alters the original concept changed, taking on the symbolism of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Photographs of the dead are placed on the alters, along with personal objects and the favourite food and drink of the person in question when he/she was alive.
The candles placed on the alter signified the Seven Cardinal Sins and these candles were palced there to guide the soul of the dead person to its destination; the flower 'cempazúchitl' with its vavaciuos yellow tones, is the traditional flower of the dead and denotes the strength of the light of the sun as well as sirving as a guide to the spirits.
The fisrt of November is denominated the "Day of the Little Angels." Whilst November 2nd is dedicated to the adult dead, then, on the 3rd, the family members eat the food from the alter, pray, and then dismantle the offering from the alter.
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Traditional Sites |
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In Mexico City, the most traditional offering is the one exhibited in the Frida Kalho Museum, in the area of Xochimilco, to the south of the City.
JANITZIO ISLAND
In the cemetary of the island of Janitzio, in Michoacán, the tradition of the "Day of the Dead" is the most prestigious. On the first of November, at 6 pm., the church bells begin to sound at one minute intervals and continue until dawn.
From the piers of the lake the canoes with the local traditional fishing nets in the shape of butterflies set sail lighting the way with the old-style torches. Meanwhile, the cemetrary is lit with candles, and trays of fruit are placed on the graves along with floral tributes, whilst the womenfolk drop flower petals around the graves and light 'copal,' the local insence. The celbration lasts for two days.
MIXQUIC
Days before the festival, families prepare 'tamales' - a local cornmeal food, chocolate, mole, rice, traditional sweets and Bread for the Dead. On November 1st. thousands of candles are lit on bedside-table type furniture. The following day, the population arm themselves with brushes, buckets and a great quantity of flowers, to clean and decorate the tombs. The festivities end in the evening in the cemetary.
XOCHIMILCO
The celebration begins at 3 pm. with the "Plaza de los Difuntos" - the "Square of the Dead,' in the town center.
There are also ritual celebrations in San Lorenzo Tezonco (DF), the State of Morelos and in Oaxaca; in the Maya region, in the south-east region of the country and in the Mazahuas villages, in the State of Mexico.
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The Virgin of Guadalupe Day |
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On the 12th of December the whole country celebrates the birthday of the Virgin of Guadalupe. |
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On this occasion, over 4 million parishioners from the four corners of the country attend the "Villa," the famous Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City. |
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Day of the Revolution |
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November 20th is the day when the celebrations for the Mexican Revolution begin, a war that notably transformed the country. The result was the definitive installation of a Republican and Federal Government; the church was categorically split from the state; secular education was provided free by the state; workers rights were gauranteed, indigenous communal property was reestablished along with communal farming and land was donated to the people. The cost of the revolution was a million deaths.
The first l00 year anniversary of this battle will be celebrated on November 20th, 2010.
Should be a good party!
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Birthday of Benito Juarez |
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On the 21st of March, Spring is welcomed and, in addition, the birth of the Distinguished Man of the Americas, Benito Pablo Juárez García is also honoured, a man who entered the world on the ranch of San Pablo Guelatao, in Oaxaca, and ended his days as the President of the Republic, in the national Palace. One of his famous sayings was: "Among the people, as between Nations, the Respect for Others Rights means Peace."
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Calender of Fiestas |
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