Did you know that we are visiting Oaxaca during one of their most important festivals? It's called La Guelaguetza. The word's orgins are zapoteco, and means offering, sharing or giving a gift. The festivities involve two weekends, starting this weekend and again next weekend, July 18 - 20 when Robert arrives to spend the week with Pam.
Here are a couple of links that you might enjoy visiting. The first one is a short video that shows what the Monday festivities include: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ipj3_guelaguetza-oaxaca_shortfilms
This link shares a little of the history and more detail: http://www.oaxacainfo.com/guelaguetza-oaxaca.htm
La Guelaguetza 18-20 Julio and 24-27 Julio 2009
"A huge cultural event in the Mexican festival calendar, La Guelaguetza involves re-enactments of legends and celebrates traditional music, dance, costume, craft and gastronomy from the eight regions in the state of Oaxaca. The Auditorio Oaxaca is the main venue.
The origins of the festival go back to colonial times. It was not until 1932, with the fourth centenary of Oaxaca, that it was decided to combine two festivals which were previously held alongside each other: the Festival of the Virgin del Carmen Alto and Mondays on the Hill (Los Lunes del Cerro), and to give them the one name of La Guelaguetza. Attractions of the event include a pageant that re-enacts some of the ancient traditions performed at the original Lunes del Cerro ceremonies and dances, the election of the God Centéotl and a re-enactment of the legend of Princess Donají, daughter of the Zapotecan King Cosijoeza.
Visitors can't fail to appreciate the importance of this cornerstone of Mexican heritage and the sheer abundance of folkloric traditions still in existence today in this diverse and beautiful country.”
Information taken from: http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/ThingsToDoEvent?event_id=19404
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