There is always some kind of Oaxaca festival happening, from the religious festivals to the cultural celebrations that exist in Oaxaca. Through all of the Oaxaca festivals you will find local artisans and handcrafts being promoted, live music and dancing, a busy zócalo, and the best Oaxacan food.
January 1: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity: In the Parish of ISSSTE: It is customary among the Catholic people that the first day of each month requests are made so that there is no lack of house, clothing and sustenance, so the first day of the year is of greater importance, since on this occasion requests will be made for the whole year.
February 2: Feast of the Virgin of the Candelaria: Convite, novena, calenda, religious activities, fireworks, rosary of aurora (banners), procession, sports and cultural activities, popular dance, games, musica, mañanitas, popular antojitos.
March 19: Festivity of San José: Patron of the carpenters of the city. Novenario, religious activities, popular appetizers.
March 21: Anniversary of the birth of Don Benito Juárez: It coincides with the beginning of Spring, is celebrated with civic, cultural and sports activities in Guelatao, a town in the Sierra where Benemérito was born. Ceremonies and various activities are also held in the city.
April 25: Anniversary of the elevation of Oaxaca to a city.
May 1: Tortilla Fair: Sample and contest about the elaboration of products based on corn.
May 3: Festivity of the Holy Cross.
June 11: Thursday of Corpus Christi
June 13: Festivity of San Antonio de Padua.
June 14: Feast of the Holy Trinity
July: Every year during the last two Mondays of the month of July the Guelaguetza, known as Fiesta de los Mondays del Cerro, is celebrated. The Oaxaca Festival to end all Oaxaca Festivals. All the regions of the state show their best dances in the Guelaguetza Auditorium located in the Cerro del Fortín, accompanied by a wonderful panoramic view of the city.
The current festival of the “Lunes del Cerro” refers to the end of the 15th century; its origin is derived from the celebration of pre-Hispanic worship rites and petition to the Aztec protection goddess of corn “Centeocihuatl” or “Centeotl”.
From 1951, the “Monday of the Hill” festivities adopt the popular term of “La Guelaguetza”, because the regional delegations usually bring, to give to the public; craft products, fruits and drinks, in addition to their music and dances during this Oaxaca Festival.
August 31: Blessing of animals: What makes the blessing unique in Oaxaca, is the custom of bringing animals in human attire and / or adorned with flowers.
October 4: San Francisco de Asis: It is one of the few festivals that have remained without ups and downs, because the Third Franciscan Order, actively participates in the organization of profane and religious celebrations.
Variable date in October: Festivity of the Virgin of the Rosary
Día de los Muertos
November 1: It is a day to “welcome the dead”, the custom is to give relatives and friends of the family a gifted sample of the dishes that make up the offering of the dead. The delivery is done house by house. This day the “little angels” are venerated, that is, the relatives who died as children.
November 2: All Saints and the Faithful Dead are venerated.
On that date some pray for their past relatives, others go to the cemeteries to adorn the graves that remain in the pantheons, thus elaborating the altars of the dead.
December 8: Feast of the Virgin of Juquila.
December 12: Festivity of the Virgin of Guadalupe: Undoubtedly the Mexican party par excellence, is celebrated in Oaxaca with joy and splendor, significantly in its diocesan sanctuary.
December 16 to 24: Traditional Pasadas and Oaxaca Festival.
December 23: Night of radishes is celebrated on December 23 in the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo of the city of Oaxaca). The Contest of Figures made from Radishes, Immortal Flower and Totomoxtle takes place starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución.
December 24: Calendas.
December 31: New Year’s Eve