- Guelaguetza
The Guelaguetza, or Los lunes del cerro (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.location= |isbn=0292712219 ] Its origins come from celebrations related to the worship of corn. Communities from within the state of Oaxaca gather to present their regional culture in the form of music, costumes, dances, and food. It is the most famous event of its kind in Mexico.cite journal |last= Quintanar Hinojosa |first=Beatriz |year=2007 |month= August |title=La Guelaguetza |journal=Guía México Desconocido: Oaxaca |volume= 137 |pages=22 |url= www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx ]
The modern version of this festival started as a celebration in honor of the
Virgin del Carmen . In the 20th century, sponsored by the local government, it became a festival celebrating the city and state of Oaxaca.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".Dates celebrated
Each year, the Guelaguetza is celebrated on the two Mondays immediately following
July 16 , except when the first Monday falls onJuly 18 , the day on whichBenito Juárez death. 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). However, side events associated with the festival,such as concerts, are held all during the month of July.In
2006 , Due to civil unrest, the Guelaguetza was not held at the "Cerro del Fortín" as planned.References
External links
* [http://www.oaxaca-mio.com/fiestas/guelaguetza.htm Guelaguetza, from www.oaxaca-mio.com]
* [http://www.oaxaca.com/guelaguetza/ Official Site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATfX3Jv3Xbk Video About Guelaguetza]
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