The Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico, is an annual festival celebrating the indigenous peoples’ diverse cultural heritage. There are two main days in which is celebrated, these are the “mondays of the hill”. This celebration also shows the traditions and meaning of the word Guelaguetza. It features traditional dances, unique stories, and colorful costumes, all sharing traditions among different communities. This festival isn’t just held in the “Fortin Hill” on that 2 mondays, so in this Ultimate Guide to the Guelaguetza of Oaxaca, I’ll tell you how to get the best out of it. Get ready to enjoy the local gastronomy, traditions and heritage of natives.
WHAT’S THE GUELAGUETZA?
The Guelaguetza, an annual festival in July, is a celebration of the diverse cultures, gastronomy, and traditions of Oaxaca that we share with the world. The festival name (“Guelaguetza”) means present or offering, which is fitting because it showcases the cultural richness of the eight regions of Oaxaca through their traditions, food, and customs. The festival has its roots in pre-Hispanic times and is a testament to the enduring legacy of Guelaguetza.
The Guelaguetza is a festival held in July. During this festival we celebrate the diversity of cultures, gastronomy and traditions of Oaxaca, and we share it with the world.
ORIGINS OF THE GUELAGUETZA
Zapotecs believed in a lot of gods and goddesses, they had gods for the rain, for the sun, and even for crops. Specifically, the ones of the crops are called “Pitao Cocijo” and “Pitao Cozobi”.
First, during the month of July, zapotecs harvested their crops, and to thank the gods for a good season they would go to Dani Lao Nayaalaoni, a mountain where they would put part of their crop as an offering. Also they danced, played cheerful music and they shared food.
Secondly the zapotecs where conquered by a very powerful empire, the aztecs. They imposed a new goddess called “Centéotl”, this goddess was the goddess of corn, and zapotecs made a similar festival to it.
Finally spaniards arrived and conquered the natives. They imposed their own religion, and during the month of July they celebrated the Virgin of Mount Carmel. Zapotecs and the other cultures adopted this and other elements of the spanish to make the “Guelaguetza” that is still celebrated in the Dani Lao Nayaalaoni now called “Cerro del Fortín”.
WHAT TO DO IN THE GUELAGUETZA? ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE GUELAGUETZA OF OAXACA 2023
The Guelaguetza is full of activities and cultural events that you can’t miss. Here I take you through the best events and places to live the Guelaguetza in 2023.
CENTÉOTL GODDESS CONTEST
As I told you above, the Guelaguetza origins are about thanking Centéotl goddess for the crops. So, now the Centéotl Goddess is an indigenous women that is judged not on their external beauty but on how much they know their culture, past, and what they do in the present to preserve their culture.
The contest takes place in the Plaza de la Danza the 23rd of June. Here, more than 40 women from the 8 regions of Oaxaca come with their knowledge and indigenous identity to participate in this contest to represent the Centéotl Goddess. The judges evaluate a project that the participants make in their communities to preserve the indigenous legacy.
This year (2023), the winner was Leticia Santiago Guzmán a “chatina” women from the region of the coast.
INAUGURATION OF THE GUELAGUETZA
Start feeling this magical festival, the activities start with the inauguration the first of July at 17:00 (GMT-6). Where? At the Plaza de la Danza. This activity is probably not going to involve a lot of the elements that you want to see, so if you are not coming for a lot of time, you can find a better activity.
MONDAYS ON THE HILL
The main days of the Guelaguetza are the “Mondays on the Hill”, this year (2023) the Mondays are the 17th and 24th of July. On this occasion the communities and cultures of the 8 regions of Oaxaca come together to show their traditions and dances in the “Cerro del Fortín” (Fortín Hill). In the Mondays on the Hill you will see traditional dances, rituals, and customs from the native cultures.
You can check which delegations (towns) are participating in each monday and time on this instagram post from the tourism secretaryship of Oaxaca: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuBIDifLFyj/
A lot of people go to Mondays on the Hill, and tickets are not available for a lot of time, if you’re lucky you can buy tickets and see this event. This is not a paid mention, but you can buy the tickets in the link below, there aren’t much left.
If you can’t get tickets here, there are other alternatives to enjoy this kind of festivals. The Guelaguetza of the Tule is one of them, probably more authentic now, because the people there are closer to their traditions and ancestors. However, if you want to enjoy an authentic experience of the Guelaguetza, and not just a commercial one, you got to the right place. Just contact me.
CONVITES & DELEGATION PARADES
Imagine yourself watching a parade with a great environment of celebration, the instruments resonating with the awesome melodies that were possible thanks to the mixture of a lot of cultures, the mixture of colors on each custom and element of the convites. Obviously in Oaxaca, this scenario is possible, you can enjoy the traditional dances, mezcal, and the natives customs for free.
There are 2 very similar kind of parades where you can enjoy these things.
First, the convites, these are colorful “calendas” that invite to the “Mondays on the Hill”. Second, the Delegation Parades, these are “calendas” or parades where you can see the delegations that participate in the mondays on the hill.
This year (2023). You can enjoy the convites the 1st, 7th and 8th of July. And you will be able to see the Delegation Parades the 15th and 22nd of July. Are you going to miss them? All the info in the link below so you don’t miss them.
DISCOVER THE COLORFUL CONVITES: TRADITIONAL CALENDAS OF THE 8 REGIONS OF OAXACA
LEGEND OF PRINCESS DONAJÍ
Get immersed in a folcloric representation of an impossible love that transcends to these days. Without a doubt you have to see this representation. You can learn about the organization of pre-hispanic cultures, their problems and the love between two people of cultures that had big political differences.
The Legend is also about how a lot of years later someone was walking along the banks of the Atoyac River and found a very beautiful flower. When he tried to take it out, the head of Donají Princess came out. Today that part of the legend makes the icon of the oaxacan state.
Learn more about this legend here: THE LEGEND OF PRINCESS DONAJÍ OF OAXACA (2023)
Where to get tickets for the Legend of Donají Princess?
You can see this event in the Guelaguetza Auditorium the 16th and 23rd of July. After you finish reading you can get tickets in the link below.
Get your tickets here (Not affiliate link): https://web2.superboletos.com/SuperBoletos/landing-evento?event_id=dRMLQFMvon-jpH8q8ml9_A
TOURS (GUIDE TO THE GUELAGUETZA, OAXACA)
Get the best authentic Guelaguetza experiences with our seasonal tours in which you can learn about the traditions, enjoy the food, and meet awesome people. Our mission is to help the Guelaguetza keep the meaning that is has. And not let it just be a commercial thing.
Indeed in our tours you will go on a real adventure to see the dances and costumes in the land where they are made. The only question you need to ask yourself is. Did I come to enjoy Oaxaca? Feel free to contact me for any advice you need in your next trip, and don’t miss this tours. Book now, click here.
HANDCRAFTS EXPO FAIR OF THE GUELAGUETZA
If you want to take a little piece of Oaxaca to your next destiny. Equally if you just want to see the masterpieces that artisans make and that are part of the oaxacan identity, you need to go to the Handcrafts Expo Fair.
This Expo Fair is going to be open from the 14th to the 25th of July from 10 am to 8 pm in the Cultural and Conventions Center of Oaxaca. You will surely be delighted in the fair because you can see the handmade work of artisans that make: alebrijes, black clay, traditional clothes and a lot of other handcrafts that wait for you to discover.
ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS OF THE GUELAGUETZA
During the 10th, 19th, 21st, 26th and 28th of July, in different spaces of the Historical Center a new program will be implemented in the Guelaguetza. This program is the “Artistic and Cultural Expressions of the Guelaguetza (2023)”.
In view of helping indigenous towns and afro-mexicans not being excluded from the Guelaguetza, the government created this program. Until now these groups of Oaxaca had been excluded from the Guelaguetza. And now if you come to the 2023 Guelaguetza you will be able to enjoy artistic and cultural expressions from this group in the Historical Center in the dates already mentioned.
Don’t miss at least one date of these events, I think they will be really good.
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE GUELAGUETZA OF OAXACA FOR FOODIES
Who doesn’t like to enjoy good food and drinks? Well, I do. And if you do keep reading because I’ll take you to the best events of the Guelaguetza to enjoy one of the best foods in the world, the oaxacan food. Oaxacan food is a mixture of colors, smells and flavors, it’s a mixture of ingredients from native lands and from a lot of foreign lands. So that makes it one of the best in the world, all of it is fresh and delicious.
FOOD CRAVING WEEK
Delight your palate with the mixture of flavors that Oaxaca has for you in the Guelaguetza. Guelaguetza is about sharing, and we are ready to share the best of our gastronomy in this week. Therefore at the Llano Park, from the 14th to the 25th of July from 12 to 20 hrs the food craving week will be waiting for you with a great variety of dishes.
If you don’t go to enjoy these dishes, then you will be missing the best dishes of one of the best cuisines in the world. During this week some dishes that you can enjoy are: tlayudas, quesadillas, tejate, empanadas and much more!
TAMAL AND TEJATE FAIR
Corn has been the most used ingredient in México since the pre-hispanic times and it is still the main ingredient in a lot of dishes. Also, corn is part of the identity of mexicans and it is a very versatile ingredient. Corn can be mixed with salty flavors, sweet flavors and it will still taste delicious.
Two delicious dishes made with corn in Oaxaca are tamales, and tejate. First, the tejate, the tejate is a drink that pre-hispanic oaxacan cultures used for ceremonial purposes, and now everyone can enjoy it and its magnific properties.
You may be asking, why if a lot of dishes are made with corn, only these 2 get a fair. Well it’s because tejate is a unique drink from Oaxaca. And, what about tamales? It’s because Oaxaca has the greatest variety of these.
To enjoy these delicious dishes in the tamal and tejate fair, go to the “Plaza de la Danza” the 19th and 20 of July.
KNOW ABOUT TEJATE HERE: THE TEJATE, THE CEREMONIAL DRINK OF THE GODS
MOLE FESTIVAL
Mole is a mixture of flavors: sweet, salad and spicy. And if you were wondering if that tastes good, yes it does. Obviously there is a great variety of moles the most representative of Oaxaca is black mole. Mole will have a unique taste in every place. This is because there’s not just one recipe for each kind of mole, there are various. Having this in mind you can see that in the mole festival you will enjoy a lot with the variety of moles and the dishes that are made with it.
Don’t miss all these flavors. Enjoy them in the Mole festival on July 14, in the Cultural and Conventions Center of Oaxaca.
MEZCAL FAIR
Finally, the Mezcal fair. Get to know the great variety of mezcales, cocktails made with mezcal, and brands with different missions and views about mezcal. As other events of the Guelaguetza this event will be at the Cultural and Conventions Center of Oaxaca from the 14th to the 25th of July from 10 to 22 hrs. The access to this fair will have a cost of around $80MXN (less than 5 DLS).
Do you know about…? THE MEZCAL, WHAT IT IS AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM TEQUILA?
On my Instagram stories I will put some other events of the Guelaguetza that you could be interested in, so be sure to follow. But in this Guide to the Guelaguetza of Oaxaca I left you the main ones.
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History of the Guelaguetza: https://www.gob.mx/cultura/articulos/la-guelaguetza-o-la-fiesta-de-la-comunalidad-de-los-pueblos-de-oaxaca?idiom=es#:~:text=La%20ra%C3%ADz%20de%20la%20Guelaguetza,en%20agradecimiento%20por%20sus%20cosechas.&text=La%20fiesta%20del%20lunes%20del%20cerro.