Guelaguetza
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The Guelaguetza, or Los lunes del Cerro (The Mondays of the Hill) is an annual cultural celebration that takes place in the city of Oaxaca, capital of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico.
The celebration dates back to pre-Columbian times and remains a defining characteristic of Oaxacan culture. Communities from within the state of Oaxaca gather to present their regional culture in the form of music, costumes, dances, and food.
The celebration takes place on consecutive Mondays at the end of July in the city's open-air amphitheater that was built into the "Cerro del Fortín", a hill that overlooks central Oaxaca. The word Guelaguetza comes from the Zapotec language and means "reciprocal exchanges of gifts and services".
[edit] Dates celebrated
Each year, the Guelaguetza is celebrated on the two Mondays immediately following July 16, except when the first Monday falls on July 18, the birthday of Benito Juárez. Out of respect for Oaxaca's most famous son, the celebrations are postponed for one week, falling on July 25 and August 1 (as occurred in 2005).
In 2006, Due to civil unrest, the Guelaguetza was not held at the Cerro del Fortín as planned.
[edit] References
Cohen, Jeffrey H. (1999). Cooperation and Community: Economy and Society in Oaxaca. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292712219.
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) (English) Guelaguetza: bilingual essay with audio
- (Spanish) Guelaguetza, from www.oaxaca-mio.com
- (Spanish) Official Site
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