Oaxaca is already preparing its biggest party: Guelaguetza 2024. It is a traditional celebration that brings together colorful dances, vibrant music and an explosion of authentic flavors of the region.
This annual event, which brings together indigenous communities from across the state, is a manifestation of the diversity and unity that characterize the land of the Zapotec and Mixtec.
For this year's edition, new interpretations of traditional dances, craft exhibitions and tastings of exquisite Oaxacan cuisine are expected.
Although this festival is celebrated during the month of July, at the moment the state is already fine-tuning details to offer an unforgettable experience to attendees. Let's see what this is about.
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What do we know about Guelaguetza 2024?
A core part of the Guelaguetza is linked to the participation of the Oaxacan delegations, which are responsible for publicizing the ethnic and cultural wealth of the state.
Let us remember that a delegation is the group of original people who belong to an ethnic group, which they represent during this great festival.
According to government of Oaxacafor this year nearly 80 delegations registered to participate in the Guelaguetza 2024. However, their selection process is just beginning.
The first step is to comply with the administrative process, which recently closed. Subsequently, the delegations must prepare an original number or dance through which they will share their traditions with those attending the presentations of the Hill Monday.
When will Guelaguetza 2024 take place?
Guelaguetza 2024 will take place between Monday, July 22 and 29 in the Guelaguetza Auditorium, the site where the Hill Monday Festival.
The Guelaguetzathe highest festival in the state of Oaxaca, has its origins in pre-Hispanic times, when the Zapotec indigenous people who lived in the region dedicated many of their prayers and dances to gods such as “Centeocihuatl” or “Centéotl”, “Cosijo” and “Pitao Cocobi”. ”, closely linked to rain and the work of the land (that is, to agricultural cycles).
According to tradition, these first festivals culminated with the sacrifice of a maiden and were held in the same place where they are still celebrated today: the Fort Hillknown at that time as “Tani Lao Nayyaloani” or “Daninayaloani” which means Bellavista Hill.
During the Conquest and the Colony, the indigenous festivals continued but were consecrated to the Virgin of Carmen, establishing Sunday, July 16 as the official date for the celebrations (only if the 16th did not fall on a Sunday, would they take place on the first Monday following this date). Since then they have been called “Monday of the Hill”.
Towards the 19th century, many historians agree that the “Lunes del Cerro” lost its splendor and that it was not until 1928 and 1930 when the festivities regained importance; New dances were even introduced such as the “Danza de la Pluma”, which represents the catastrophe that represented the conquest of the region.
Finally, in 1951, the festival began to be popularly known as “Guelaguetza” and from 1974 it takes place in the Audience of the same name, also located on the Fortín hill.