Guelaguetza
In pre-colonial times, indigenous groups in Oaxaca Today's would have celebrations on July 16 to honor of the corn goddess, Centeotl. They would hold the celebration so that it there would be enough rain for them to have harvest corn. They would also use the celebration as a way to pay others for helping them with a favor. The people attending would bring something to contribute: food, drinks, supplies, etc. Each individual's offering, or "guelaguetza.” Guelaguezta means "reciprocal exchanges of gifts and services" in the Zapotec language. Guelaguetza made the celebration possible and leads to a reciprocal exchange that reinforces social and community. It was a 9 day festival. When the Spanish arrived in Oaxaca in 1528, the Spaniards attempted to get the indigenous groups to stop these celebrations. They built a Catholic Church on top of el Cerro del Fortin and named it in honor of the Virgin of Monte Carmelo. However, indigenous groups continued to worship the corn goddess Centeotl. The Catholic Church then decided to move the celebration of the Virgin del Carmelo to the Sunday before July 16.
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Every year a young woman from one of the communities of Oaxaca is chosen to represent Centeotl, the corn goddess. |
The festival was then called Lunes del Cerro (“Mondays on the Hill”) and it was celebrated on the last two Mondays in July. In 1953, it was officially called La Guelaguetza. Today's Guelaguetza festival combines precolonial celebrations of the corn goddess, Centeotl, and the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which takes place on July 16th. Every year a young woman from one of the communities of Oaxaca is chosen to represent Centeotl, the corn goddess. Part of this tradition is a contest is to see which young woman is most knowledgeable about her community's traditions. It is an annual event in Oaxaca in celebration of the cultural traditions and diversity, the state of Oaxaca being home to sixteen different ethno-linguistic groups. Traditional folk dancers and musicians costumed in their region's traditional clothing perform song and dance, which many have been preparing for months in advance. At the end of their performances they toss traditional cultural items to the crowd as part of Guelaguetza. An amphitheater was specifically built for the celebration in the 1970s, though other events are held there throughout the year. It seats 11,000 people. The amphitheater was designed as to allow spectators a clear view of not only the stage, but the magnificent city sprawled out below.
Watch the 2014 Guelaguetza!
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Guelaguetza in Los angeles
The Guelaguezta has been celebrated in Los Angeles for the last 25 years and was started by the Oaxacan immigrant community. The first Guelaguetza was organized by the Organización Regional Oaxaqueña (ORO), in Los Angeles in 1988 and is one of the biggest Guelaguetza festivals worldwide and in some years has attracted over 10,000 visitors. The Guelaguetza in Los Angeles consists of the performance of traditional dances, music and sales of indigenous products, such as food, clothes, art, and other Oaxacan handcrafts.