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The Guelaguetza It is an ancient tradition with pre-Hispanic roots related to agricultural ceremonies of gratitude to the gods for the arrival of the rains and the lifting of the harvest at the end of July and is the largest festival in Oaxaca. La Guelaguetza is a celebration of gratitude for the arrival of the rains and the harvests, in which representatives from all regions of the state gather in the capital to share their culture through dances, crafts and food.
La Guelaguetza is celebrated every year on the two Mondays after July 16, except when the first Monday is July 18, Benito Juárez's death anniversary.
Many types of dances also participate, such as the traditional Flor de Piña; where women usually dress in Huipiles representing the different regions of the state, as well as with their pineapple on their shoulders, they comb their hair with beautiful long braids accompanied by their ribbons and can not missing her accessories that is, bracelets, necklaces and earrings of precious colors and her beautiful makeup.
The origins
Al parecer, esta fiestas tiene su origen en la época colonial y están relacionadas con la llamada fiesta de Corpus de la Iglesia del Carmen Alto, templo que las Carmelitas construyeron en las faldas de un cerro al que los zapotecas habían llamado de la Bella Vista, y se celebraba el domingo siguiente al 16 de julio y se repetía ocho días después en la llamada “octava”.
Festivities in Honor of La Virgen del Carmen Alto
The Corpus Christi festivals faithfully followed the Spanish tradition and were celebrated as part of the ritual of the Catholic temples in the city, then called Antequera. The coincidence between both festivals, the indigenous and the Spanish, facilitated the syncretism that gave rise to the Cerro Mondays festivities, in which the Oaxacan tradition is still preserved with great enthusiasm, which, moreover, is clearly related with the popular belief that Mondays are auspicious days for festive rites.

Las Fiestas de “Los Lunes del Cerro”

The Hill Monday Festivities take place throughout the month of July with folkloric presentations, concerts, exhibitions, cultural and sports events, standing out:
• La Guelaguetza (Guelaguetza Auditorium)
• The Parade of Delegations
• The Legend of Princess Donají
• The Mezcal and Gastronomic Fair
• As well as many other events and activities within the City and its surroundings.
Guelaguetza is a Zapotec word that denotes the act of participating in cooperation; It is a free gift that carries with it no obligation other than that of reciprocity. The Guelaguetza of the Monday of the Hill is expressed in the offering to the City of Oaxaca that representative groups of the eight traditional regions make:
Los Valles Centrales, La Sierra Juárez (Norte), La Cañada, Papaloapan, La Mixteca, La Costa, La Sierra Sur y el Istmo de Tehuantepec. Cada delegación presenta una muestra de su patrimonio cultural a través de bailes que ejecutan al son de la música y los cantos que les son propios, vistiendo indumentaria de gala de sus respectivos pueblos. Al terminar, cada grupo distribuye entre el público su “Guelaguetza” compuesta por objetos característicos de sus respectivas regiones.
Parades of the Delegations

Recently, other folkloric shows for popular recreation have been added to these festivals, such as the parade of the delegations organized in the manner of the traditional Calenda and which takes place on the Saturday before the first Monday.
Esta calenda la encabeza la “marmota”, que es un gran farol esférico cubierto de tela, los “gigantes”, las “chinas oaxaqueñas”, mujeres de la ciudad portando canastas enfloradas acompañadas de su banda de música y los coheteros; les siguen las demás delegaciones, cada una de ellas precedida de la música propia de su región.

The Goddess Centéotl

As part of the Cerro Mondays festivities, the Secretariat of Cultures and Arts of Oaxaca (Seculta), and the Organizing Committee of these celebrations invite Oaxacan women from the eight regions of the entity, to participate in the Contest to choose to the representative of the Goddess Centéotl.
Presentation of the legend of Princess Donají
La Coordinación General de Turismo Muncipal presenta este espectáculo, que se ha convertido en una de las tradiciones más fuertes e imborrables de los oaxaqueños dentro de las festividades de los Lunes del Cerro. El Ballet Folklórico de Oaxaca escenifica esta leyenda en este magno espectáculo de música, luz y danza. Se realiza el domingo por la tarde, antes de la presentación de la Guelaguetza el “Lunes del Cerro”.
Presentación en el “Auditorio Guelaguetza”

El lunes a las cinco de la mañana, los “chirimeteros” de los Valles Centrales, tocan las “mañanitas” al cerro, con pitos, tambores y chirimías, mientras la gente empieza a llegar al Cerro del Fortin, lugar donde se localiza el Auditorio Guelaguetza, en donde se puede disfrutar de un suculento almuerzo oaxaqueño, antes de entrar al auditorio en el que la marimba y los chirimeteros ofrecen una audición a los asistentes. A las diez de la mañana dá inicio la Guelaguetza.
The Mezcal Fair
Galería, muestra gastronómica, foro cultural y artístico en un área de ocho mil 900 metros cuadrados en forma de cruz es la extensión que ocupa la Feria Nacional del Mezcal Oaxaca en el Parque Paseo Juárez “El Llano”.

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