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JANUARY 2009 |
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New Year's Day (Año Nuevo)
Nationwide, JAN 1
A national holiday, and a day of celebrations, parties and festivals. Check locally to see what specific activities are planned. Many people also use this day to sleep off the partying from the night before! |
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City of Merida Festival (Festival de la Ciudad de Merida)
Merida, Yucatan, JAN 2-12
In celebration of the city's founding more than 461 years ago, this ten-day festival features music, dance and exhibits of local art, as well as the annual serenade to the city, where the traditional "Mañanitas" (the "Happy Birthday" song) is sung by its residents.
www.merida.gob.mx |
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Merida International Arts Festival
Merida, Yucatan, JAN 5-23
Sponsored by CONACULTA (The National Board of Culture), INBA (National Institute of Fine Arts), the state of Yucatan and the city of Merida, this arts festival will feature live concerts, opera, dance, theater, poetry readings, art and photography exhibitions as well as films from all over the world. Many events will be taking place at the Jose Marti Cultural Center, Olimpo's Cultural Center, Merida's city theater, the University of Yucatan and Jose Peon Contreras? Theater. |
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Three Kings' Day (Dia de los Santos Reyes)
Nationwide, JAN 6
This is the day that gifts are traditionally exchanged as it represents the day that the Three Kings arrived at the Nativity to give their gifts to the baby Jesus. This is also a day when Rosca de los Reyes (King's Loaf) is served, a round, doughnut-like cake, which contains a little plastic doll somewhere inside. By tradition, if you are served the slice that contains the doll, you must host a party on Dia de la Candelaria in February.
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Leon State Fair
Leon, Guanajuato. Leon City, JAN 14 - FEB 7
located just 45 minutes outside of Guanajuato, hosts this annual fair which features concerts, dance, food and much more. One of the highlights of this year's fair is an ancient Totonac ritual performed by dancers of all ages called Los Voladores de Papantla (Flyers from Papantla). These professional dancers launch themselves from the top of a 100-foot pole and slowly descend, flying through the air as the ropes around the pole unwind.
www.ferialeon.com.mx |
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St. Sebastian Fiesta (Fiesta de San Sebastian el Martir)
Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas . JAN 15-23
This fiesta is famous for its "parachicos" tour, which features a dancing procession from the Santo Domingo church to the San Antonio Hermit and ends in a delectable food festival featuring traditional dishes such as "pepita con tasajo" made of beef in a creamy pumpkin seed sauce. On the night of the 21st, a traditional nautical battle takes place on the Grijalva River which concludes in a spectacle of fireworks.
http://www.mexperience.com/discover/mexicoeventscalendar/january.php#TOP |
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Ceremony of the Pocho Dance
Tenosique, Tabasco. JAN 19
Dating back to prehispanic times, the traditional "Pocho" dance means it's almost Carnaval time in Tabasco. The Pochü consists of a series of dances and other ancient ceremonies performed by masked dancers, many dressed as jaguars and tigers. The dance symbolizes the purification of man through the battle between good and evil. The Pocho performances begin on January 20 at the main park in Tenosique and on all subsequent Sundays prior to the commencement of Carnival. On the last day, the dancers dance backwards from the main square to the church where the dance began |
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