Unique and Enjoyable Mexican Festivals You Should Visit After the Pandemic
The widespread stay-at-home orders and restrictions on going outside had left a lot of people stressed and eager to go outside. Why not plan for your next trip while still stuck at home? Make a detailed plan of where you will be traveling again once the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
Mexicans are known to spend a little bit more on events such as festivals, carnivals, and parties compared to other types of public events. This proves that Mexican festivals are perfect to be included in your next out of the country trip.
Here are some Mexican Festivals that you need to witness first-hand:
Otumba: Feria Nacional del Burro
Donkeys are well appreciated in a town in Mexico called Otumba. Otumba is located at the crossroads northeast of Mexico City. During the Spanish Colonization, Otumba became the center for the sale of donkeys. On May 1, the Feria Nacional del Burro has been celebrated every year since 1965.
This is a well-known festival. Yearly, it attracts more than 40,000 guests in a variety of events in the celebration of the festival.
During this festival, fireworks displays, hot air balloons shaped like donkeys, and burrito booths can be observed. Additionally, a donkey race can be witnessed during the festival. Also, donkey dancing can be enjoyable to watch. Furthermore, the festival includes an event where a donkey gets crowned.
Noche de Los Rábanos
In the beautiful city of Oaxaca, located in the southern part of Mexico, radish carving is a well-celebrated activity. The Noche de Los Rábanos is translated in English as 'The Night of the Radishes.' It is a yearly festival that emphasizes the use of radishes in making art, such as the creation of sculptures.
Radishes were introduced in Mexico by the Spanish. The artists in Oaxaca had made use of radish as a medium in carving out religious designs. It was used to attract people to shop at a Christmas market being held in the center of the city.
Since the competition in 1897, radish arrangements have transformed into a more impressive and complex art. Currently, the maximum number of entries is 100, where 100 people get to show their talents while making use of government-grown radishes. These radishes are big and are not edible.
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The Velas of Juchitán
This is a colorful festival that is held in Juchitán, a city located southeast of Oaxaca City. This was traditionally held to celebrate the days of saints, and it had grown over the years. Currently, there are 26 Velas. Velas involve huge parties that happen between April and September. The majority of the Velas are centered on the identity of multiple interest groups and families. Some of these Velas include the Union of Fishermen and Vela of Las Auténticas Intrépidas Buscadoras de Peligro or the Authentic Intrepid Seekers of Danger. Vela of Las Auténticas Intrépidas Buscadoras de Peligro celebrates transsexual men who are generally accepted as a 'third gender' by the Zapotecs.