The pandemic has caused many social and cultural events to be cancelled, one of them the Guelaguetza, which since last year could not be done. It seems that this year it will not be possible to appreciate in person this great event that only happens once a year and only in Oaxaca. But will it be possible to watch it on a digital platform? Stay here because here I’ll tell you all about it.
WHAT IS THE GUELAGUETZA?
The Guelaguetza is probably the most emblematic celebration of Oaxaca. In this festivity dances and rituals from the 8 regions are presented. It has pre-hispanic origins because Oaxaca was conquered by the mexica empire and in that time they believed in a lot of gods. One of those was the goddess of corn – centéotl – to whom they offered dances, rites and a very big banquet that could last 8 days.
As time passed the celebration changed, with the arrival of the Spanish conquerers the people were evangelized changing their beliefs and combining them, making a crossbreeding. A lot of years later after the Spanish occupation the Oaxacan government decided to convene this ancestral celebration in the “lunes del cerro” that are celebrated in the Guelaguetza auditorium or Cerro del Fortín.
WHAT DOES GUELAGUETZA MEAN?
Guelaguetza comes from the zapotec guendalezaa that means offering, present or compliance.
WHERE TO SEE THE GUELAGUETZA OF 2021?
For the second time the Guelaguetza is not going to be done on-site, but there is going to be a virtual Guelaguetza that is going to be transmitted by the Oaxacan Corporation of Radio and Television (CORTV). In this virtual Guelaguetza every participant community is going to do their representations from their places of origin.
HOW TO SEE IT IF YOU DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO THE CHANNEL?
This event is for everyone, but virtually. If you do not have access to the tv channel you can also see it in the social networks of CORTV.
I hope you liked the post and that it is useful for you, and I hope that you appreciate the Guelaguetza at a distance. Remember that Oaxaca has a lot more tourist attractions to visit, always protect yourself and protect others by taking preventative sanitary measures.
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SOURCES: oaxaca.gob.mx, el universal y conocimientos personales.