Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Oaxaca’s Guelaguetza canceled for second year

The Guelaguetza festival in Oaxaca will be canceled for a second consecutive year due to ongoing concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

The festival, which normally takes place in July each year, brings the indigenous peoples of Oaxaca  together to showcase their heritage and traditions in the form of intricate traditional garments, dances, music and food. It has been described as the largest ethnic festival in Latin America, and draws domestic and international tourists.

Oaxaca first went green on the Covid-19 stoplight map in April, and cases have been on the decrease. In total, 47,780 people in Oaxaca have been affected by the disease, resulting in 3,825 deaths. The state currently has 223 confirmed cases.

Governor Alejandro Murat confirmed at a press conference that the event would not go ahead. “The priority of my government is the lives of the citizens of Oaxaca,” he said.

The word Guelaguetza is of Zapotec origin, and has been interpreted to mean the “reciprocal exchanges of gifts and services.” The festivity is also known as Lunes del Cerro (Mondays on the Hill).

With reports from Infobae and El Universal

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Los Alegres de Barranco band poses with instruments and cowboy hats

US revokes visas of Mexican band who paid homage to cartel boss ‘El Mencho’

5
The band Los Alegres del Barranco is at the center of a heated controversy after paying tribute to notorious drug lord Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes during a recent concert.
Kristi Noem and President Trump

Homeland Security Secretary outlines Trump’s ‘wishlist’ for Mexico to sidestep tariffs

20
The list of requests was presented to President Sheinbaum by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who suggested Mexico may still be able to avoid tariffs before Wednesday.
A stack of tortillas with a hand at the top, pulling a couple of tortillas off the stack.

UNAM designs a ‘supertortilla’ to fight malnutrition in Mexico

7
According to federal data, over 18% of Mexicans lack access to quality nutritional food, while obesity and diabetes are prevalent in Mexico.