Sat 3
Bricklayer's Day
Just about every trade or profession in México has a day to recognize
its contribution to society. This one's for all those involved in
construction, a not inconsiderable activity in Puerto Escondido. As it
is also the day of the Holy Cross, crosses are often placed at building
sites.
Mon 5
Cinco de Mayo
The holiday to celebrate the Mexican victory over the French at the
Battle of Puebla.
Wed 7
Earthquake Simulation
The state Civil Protection Agency will test Puerto's preparedness for an
emergency with this drill that will begin with a siren alert at
approximately 11:15 a.m. See more on Civil Protection on Page 16.
Sat 10
Mother's Day
It's not a moveable feast in México, it is always celebrated on this
date, which falls on a Saturday this year.
Sat 10 - Tue 13
Annual Fair in Rio Grande
This important cattle and agricultural center celebrates its annual
fair with stock shows, rodeos, cockfights and all the traditional
fixings of the traditional fiesta. (See Page 8 for more on Rio Grande.)
Tue 13 - Thur 15
Festival of St. Isador the Farmer
San Isidro Labrador is the Spanish worker saint who tilled the soil,
obviously a popular patron for rural México. The Oaxacan coast is no
exception. Traditional fiestas will take place this week in such
communities as La Barra de Colotepec, Bajos de Chila, San Isidro
Pochutla, San Francisco Cotzoaltepec and San Isidro Nopala, among many
others.
Wed 15 is the actual saint's day, so the peak of the festivities will take place on the eve of the
feast, Tue 14. This is the night of the traditional castillo, or "castle", a wondrously
choreographed display of pyrotechnical magic. The cohetero, "rocket maker", also creates
los toritos, "little bulls", effigies of bulls and other figures, carried on the head and
shoulders of local youths as they rush around the square in a loud explosion of fire and smoke.
Quite a show!
Thu 15
Teachers Day
Tribute day for the nation's maestros. Apples all around, plus another
day off.
Possible civic program at Municipal Esplanade.
Mon 26
Students' Day
The actual Day of the Student is May 25, but since that's a Sunday, it
will be observed Monday the 26th. Yes, do you believe? Another school
holiday, this one for the kids themselves.
The Big One!
The Fiestas of May
May is a great time to be in Puerto Escondido:
there's lots of celebrating going on, the "ice-backs" have left, the great waves have
returned and it's mango season. (see more on this delectable fruit)
And, despite what you might expect after the frenzy of Easter Week and Spring Break, the fiestas keep on going. It seems that just about everybody is either being feted or celebrating somebody or something in May. Consider: the month starts out with Labor Day, a national holiday saluting all working people. Then May 3 is Day of the Bricklayer (Día del Albañíl); take a bow, all you guys involved in construction. Not too much concrete will be poured that day. It's also the Feast of the Holy Cross, more reason for celebration.
Then May 5 commemorates the Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces trounced the invading French, who were trying to impose rule by a foreign monarch. A day to celebrate national pride and another national holiday.
May 10 is Mother's Day in México. If your mother lives here, take her out for dinner and buy her flowers. If she's in Europe or North America, relax: Mom's Day is usually on a Sunday. (Well, maybe you should call her anyway.) Radio Station Esmeralda is sponsoring a Bicycle Race for Mother's day and there will be a special cultural event at the Town Hall Esplanade starting at 5 p.m.
May 15 is Teacher's Day (their students also get a day off, of course. Then another on May 26 for Day of the Student.)
May 15 is also feast day for San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers (and also patron saint of Madrid).
Not much is known about Saint Isidore. He is believed to have lived during the 12th Century in Torrelaguna, near Madrid and that he was particularly pious and hard working.
In rural regions such as this, many communities have adopted him as patron saint, which means lots of traditional fiestas in the area.
Highlight of the traditional costeña fiesta are the fireworks, in particular the lighting of the castillo, or "castle", which is actually a cane or wooden tower rigged with fireworks to light up in a wondrously choreographed display of pyrotechnical magic.
The cohetero, "rocket maker", also creates los toritos, "little bulls", effigies of bulls and other figures, carried on the head and shoulders of local youths as they rush around the square in a loud explosion of fire and smoke; Fireworks, in particular the lighting of the castillo.
Other essential ingredients are the calendas and convites, parades led by huge papier-mache puppets through the streets to whip up some merriment for the coming festivities; Jaripeos, bull-riding rodeo events.
All these activities take place to the accompaniment of the typical regional band, comprising a brass section and a percussionist or two. They play a distinct kind of music known as chilena.
There are also sports contests, horse races, occasionally cock fights, dances with touring bands with their tons of sound equipment and bazaars featuring itinerant merchants hawking all manner of goods and carnival rides.
May 10 to 13
Rio Grande Annual Fair
Rio Grande is a rich agricultural town about 45-minutes to the west on
the main highway to Acapulco near Chacahua Lagoon National Park.
It is a bustling community of some 30,000 people built on cattle raising, limes, peanuts and copra production.
The town's major fair of the year salutes the area's cattlemen and celebrates its patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patrona of all of México, whose feast day is normally observed on December 12.
When Rio Grande was a tiny settlement, originally known as Piedra Parada, after the ancient Mixteca stone markers found there, the circuit priests were just too busy in larger communities to officiate there in December. So it was decided the town would observe its feast day on May 12 instead.
It's a grand affair attracting visitors from miles around to its cattle show, elaborate rodeos, dances and nightly cockfighting.
May 13 to 15
Fiesta of San Isidro Labrador
La Barra de Colotepec is one of many communities in the area that will
host fiestas in honor of their patron, the Spanish worker saint, Isidro
Labrador.
There are actually two La Barras, facing each other on opposite banks of the Colotepec River as it runs into the ocean. La Barra de Colotepec, a village of about 2,000 inhabitants, sits on the west bank, closest to Puerto Escondido. The other is called Barra de Navidad.
The waters off La Barra often have some good breaks and a growing number of surfers are discovering the place.
The entrance to the village is just before the wide bridge, a short distance past the Pemex service station east of town.
Bajos de Chila also embraces San Isidro as patron saint and will hold observances during those same days even though Chila's major annual fair takes place around St. Valentine's Day in February. That's when the inhabitants, mostly workers in agriculture, traditionally had more money to spend.
Chila lies west of Puerto Escondido on the road to Manialtepec Lagoon.
Other community fiestas for San Isidro include: San Isidro Pochutla, on the coast highway about 35 minutes east towards Pochutla, San Francisco Cotzoaltepec, located on a dirt road off the same highway some 20 minutes driving time, and San Isidro Nopala is reached along the highway to Oaxaca, via Sola de Vega.