Guelaguetza
guelaguetza ɡelaˈɣetsa los lunes del cerro monday hill annual indigenous cultural event mexico take place city oaxaca capital state oaxaca nearby village celebration feature traditional costumed dancing genderseparated group includes native food statewide artisanal craft prehispanic style textile costume traje dance usually local indigenous historical cultural meaning celebration attracted increasing number tourist primarily one deep cultural importance indigenous people state important survival culture oaxaca large native indigenous population well percent state compared percent mexico whole going inegi ethnic report indigenous culture oaxaca remains strong people monolingual one wide variety native indigenous language many others bilingual spanish second language follow predominantly indigenous lifestyle unlike yucatánstate indigenous culture consists closely related group culture mayan indigenous people oaxaca many different culture zapotec mixtec two largest ethnic group term population area numerous indigenous ethnicity unique tradition speak distinct mutually unintelligible language guelaguetza celebration tradition long preceded arrival spanish defining characteristic oaxacan regional culture origin tradition developed earthbased religious celebration related worship corn maize corn god word guelaguetza come zapotec language usually interpreted reciprocal exchange gift service keeping importance indigenous culture sharing reciprocity extended community like many indigenous tradition mexico festival adapted absorbed christian tradition century cultural interchange spanish colonization guelaguetza also known celebration honoring lady mount carmel virgen del carmen emphasizes marianism combined surviving belief early part th century severe earthquake destroyed city afterward leader reorganized festival statewide cultural event help rebuild morale people oaxaca naming la guelaguetza de la raza event began take modern form opportunity people region showcase unique dance also began become performance ritual festival city built stadium dedicated guelaguetza prominent place fortin hill national international tourism increased since ancient city oaxaca monte albán designated unesco world heritage city november modern limited access highway completed city highway transportation slow virtually impossible journey weekend guelaguetza area mexico city rugged often remote mountainous highaltitude terrain discouraged casual visitor city completed new structure festival also built openair amphitheater built cerro del fortín overlooking center city includes seating well area band performance stage support modern lighting sound contemporary oaxaca indigenous community state gather guelaguetza present native culture mainly form music costume dance food famous indigenous gathering kind mexico guelaguetza celebration includes many related side event including performance princess donají epic based indigenous tradition performed day guelaguetza begin since guelaguetza celebrated two monday immediately following july except first monday fall july day benito juárez died zapotec became lawyer politician first indigenous president mexico serving year celebration postponed one week falling july august occurred concurrent event associated festival concert play held month july festival canceled covid pandemic mexico except virtual event festival became bigger tourist attraction indigenous leader objected ancient tradition used commercial purpose people oaxaca supported populist guelaguetza return celebration believe practiced people european colonialism current system regional government planned conduct two performance day dance group two monday many traditionalist believed disrespectful indigenous culture attempt appropriate powerful economic force political interest order accommodate monied ticketpurchasing national international tourist grassroots opposition formed popular assembly people oaxaca appo spanish asamblea popular del pueblo de oaxaca organized group protesting partido revolucionario institutional pri led state government leader tried suppress protest armed confrontation resulted death three reporter governmentsponsored guelaguetza held fortín hill planned instead appo organized free shared popular guelaguetza trying return people following year official guelguetza celebration boycotted appo attempt hold popular guelaguetza thwarted government police repression statesponsored military violence throughout city due change made makeup state government pris longstanding oneparty monopoly power state subsequent guelaguetza festival lesser degree civil unrest although numerous controversial issue still remain oaxacan immigrant u celebrated guelaguetza u immigrant typically hold guelaguetza celebration sunday keeping standard work schedule usually summer month ranging late june early august usually one day celebration may party day similar calenda parade oaxaca guelaguetzas u consist traditional dance performed ethnic group organizer usually provide stand company individual sell typical good food oaxaca sometimes imported oaxaca authenticity musical band brought oaxaca accompany dancer many guelaguetzas sponsored part tv station including telemundo local newspaper community organization company celebration often received coverage major newspaper la time one earliest guelaguetzas u held los angeles california large influx oaxacan immigration organización regional de oaxaca oro sponsored helped organize populist guelaguetza entry guelaguetza free site guelaguetza moved area dominated zapotec people one eastside order reach wider audience guelaguetza also supported different company well support restaurant guelaguetza many different smaller company attend get public recognition santa cruz california county government recognized guelaguetza official tradition organization senderos creating pathway helped establish guelaguetza santa cruz take place third sunday may earlier others festival around year far guelaguetza us regional group dancer also appearing smaller community event musical performance performed band san jose time community decided hire native band straight oaxaca however beginning train musician santa cruz order increase community involvement additionally guelaguetza held san jose california lazos oaxaqueños lead festival includes modern aspect mezcal tasting entrance fee charged raise money festival community particular guelaguetza received support senderos first began group lazos oaxaquenos senderos often rely others produce different guelaguetzas san jose festival first used local band also hired native band come oaxaca perform dancer majority guelaguetzas held west coast center population immigrant oaxaca also festival east coast consulate mexico new york advertises guelaguetzas held new brunswick nj brooklyn ny poughkeepsie ny hispanic organization worked provide support community u many sought help people oaxaca retain culture immigrating u also provide activity support child community group oro limit support indigenous oaxacans provides scholarship fund awarded various student pursue higher education group senderos also give scholarship high school senior continue education provides academic tutoring skill class youth adult lazos oaxaquenos focus building oaxaca community northern california helping make people aware different service available specifically focus communication local government consulate medium newspaper tv etc people ruth maclean oaxaca festival mexico highlight indigenous pride bbc news spanish oficial site spanish spanish spanish video guelaguetza spanish guelaguetza oaxaca guelaguetza planetacom archived wayback machine