Juquila is Oaxaca's Lourdes, a place that attracts believers from all over México who make their pilgrimage to repay a blessing, to seek a cure for illness or to renew their faith.
At the beginning of this month thousands of faithful make their pilgrimage to this shrine on foot, bicycle, bus, truck, car and motorbike.
The town itself thrives on these visitors and is crammed with hotels and restaurants and store after store selling reliquary, statues and images of the doll-like icon on pendants, bottle openers, key chains and other souvenirs. The extreme commercialism of the Juquila phenomena is countered by the very obvious intensity of the faith, passion and joy manifested by the devotees who join the never-ending services in the town church and visit the nearby sanctuary of El Pedimento.
A crazy-quilt collage of cultural artifacts are deposited on the shrine here every day: bank notes, crutches, tiny representations of hearts, limbs, houses, cars, and other symbols representing hopes or thanks for health and prosperity.
The veneration of Our Lady of Juquila dates back to the early days of Christian evangelization in the 17th Century. The small statue of the Virgin is thought to be one of the first images carried through the area by Dominican missionaries, but legend has it that it just miraculously appeared one day in Amialtepec.
A wood and palm shrine was built for her there, but burned down. The image of the Virgin, was miraculously spared and moved to Juquila while the chapel was being rebuilt.
The Virgin was taken back to its original site, but it mysteriously reappeared in Juquila, where it has remained for the intervening centuries
Among the communities that will host fiestas to honor Juquila this week are Puerto's Colonia Aeropuerto and Hidalgo Tutupec, a community that lies just beyond Manialtepec Lagoon. (Fireworks and dancing on the Sunday 7th.)
Sunday 7
The Lost Child
The tradition of the Lost Child is very popular in many parts of México,
especially in the state of Veracruz. This lovely observance is now a
tradition in Puerto. On this night townspeople light the streets with
candles so that the "Lost Child" (Niño Perdido) can find his way home.
The businesses along Zicatela Beach hope to light up the entire
commercial strip. It should be a beautiful sight.
Wednesday 10 - Friday 12
Fiesta of Virgin of Guadalupe
México's national patron saint and "Empress of the Americas." was the
first religious icon recognized for veneration by the Catholic church in
the New World. In December of 1531, according to legend, the Virgin
appeared on several occasions to the Indian Juan Diego, finally leaving
her image on his tilma, or cloak.
Dec. 12 is her actual feast day; it's a national holiday; banks, government offices and some businesses will be closed.
Friday 12
Children's Procession
Guadalupe is seen as a protector of the indigenous population, as
symbolized by this delightful procession of children dressed in
beautiful native costumes. The children gather at the Parque El Idilio
square (1st street north, between Av. Oaxaca and 1st west) and the
procession begins at about 5 p.m., passing along Avenida Oaxaca to the
church for a special mass to bless the children.
Tuesday 16 - Friday 19
Fiesta of Our Lady of Soledad
The Fiestas of November notwithstanding, this is Puerto's Annual
Fair, in honor of its patron saint, the Virgin of La Soledad.
(See more on La Soledad).
It features all the usual elements of the traditional fiesta on the coast: Lively processions, lots of music, the spectacular fireworks show known as the Castillo, but it culminates with a unique local custom that reflects Puerto's history as a fishing port: this is the ritual of taking the statue of the Virgin out to sea, accompanied by the entire local fishing fleet crammed with the faithful and accompanying musicians.
The candlelight calenda procession is particularly elaborate, with floats, hundreds of beautifully dressed madrinas bearing baskets of flowers and fruit, huge parade puppets and several bands. This year the festivities also include a jaripeo, the local bull riding rodeo. Here's the program:
Tuesday 16
5:30 p.m. Convite Procession to invite everyone to participate
in the fiesta activities.
8:30 p.m. Calenda candle-lit procession through the streets of town.
Wednesday 17
7:00 p.m. Cultural Program, culminating in the castillo, spectacular
fireworks display (at about 10 p.m.). Town Hall Esplanade
Thursday 18
5:00 a.m. Mañanitas serenade to the patron saint with the
participation of the Union of Musicians of the Coast.
6:00 a.m. Dawn Mass
4:00 p.m. Procession to the Sea, with a mass at the jetty, then the
image of the Virgin will be taken out to sea, accompanied by hundreds of
the faithful who will fill the entire fishing fleet.
7:00 p.m. Cultural Program and dance with the group Sol Mayor. Free, at
the Town Hall Esplanade
Friday 19
Jaripeo, the local version of the rodeo, is this bull-riding
contest, wildly popular here on the coast. The action will be enlivened by Alvaro
Monterrubio and his Santa Cecilia Band. Plaza De Toros "La Costeñita"
Friday 19 - Sunday 21
"Artists of Zicatela"
6th International Art Fair
This event, now in its sixth year, is more than just a group show of
local artists. The aim of its hosts at the Hotel Arcoiris and Galeria
Diana is to generally promote art, creativity and cultural interaction
in the community. Since this is a cosmopolitan resort, art is a means of
transcending our language differences. Besides the exhibition and sale
of finished artwork, there will be demonstrations of craft techniques,
workshops, music and dancing and special events. All activities are free
of charge. Here is the program that was available at press time:
Friday 19
4 p.m. Festival Inauguration at the Gardens of the Hotel Arco Iris
5 p.m. Multimedia Art Exhibition "Coast Images", a tribute to Dr. Rafael Guzmán
Calvo who has chronicled the history of Puerto Escondido. Gardens of the Hotel Arco Iris
6 p.m. Chatino Cultural Presentation on Playa Zicatela
7 p.m. Music and Song by Silvia Maria and Reynaldo Ruiz.
Saturday 20
10 a.m. Children's Workshops
Recycling; Clay sculpture; Painting; Caring for the environment in the facilities of the Hotel Arco Iris
12:30 p.m. Children's Movie in the Salón Noruego
2 p.m. Audiovisual Testimony: Puerto Escondido seen through the photographer's
lens. Salón Noruego.
6 p.m. "Sonido 13" Seminar and performance with Pepe Estevane. Salón
Noruego.
Sunday 21
10 a.m. Children's Workshops "Come, Make and Fly a Kite". Hotel
Arco Iris
11 a.m. Alternative Spaces Traditional Medicine. By the Hotel Pool.
6 p.m. Poetry with Hugo Lázaro Aguilar and Kevin Bacon. Salón Noruego.
Closing Party:
Traditional Mexican Posada
Music Jam plus lots of other events and surprises.
Saturday 20 - Sunday 21
"Save the Wave"
Surf Tournament
Categories: boys under 18; girls and women. It is an informal, community
event to further efforts to stop the environmental degradation of Zicatela. Dates and Structure of
the Contest were unconfirmed at press time. Details at Noyola Surf.
Monday 22
First Day of Winter
it officially begins at 1:04 a.m.
Aren't you glad you're here?
Wednesday 24
Christmas Eve
Known as Noche Buena, "Good Night", this is when Christmas is
traditionally celebrated in México with a family feast and Misa de
Gallo, Midnight Mass.
Thursday 25
Merry Christmas
A quiet day in México, with most people resting up after last night's
festivities (see more on Mexican Christmas traditions).
Wednesday 24 - Thursday 25
Annual Fiesta in Barra de Navidad
There are two Barras here, this one is on the far side of the Colotepec
River on the coast highway towards Pochutla.
Details were unavailable to us at press time on planned events, but the community will certain want to showcase their eco-preserve for nature tours.
The residents of Barra de Navidad formed a nonprofit organization to protect the nearby twin lagoons of Los Naranjos and Palmazola for eco-tourism.
Sunday 28
Cornelio Reyna
He's the "King of Norteña Music", with a score of albums to his credit,
plus a couple of starring roles in the movies. Besides the concert,
there will be a super rodeo, un Gran Jaripeo, a rodeo which will
feature the best known jinetes (riders) and the fiercest bulls.
Tickets available at the offices of El Sol.
Plaza de Toros La Costeñita
Sunday 28
"Innocent Children"
The feast day that commemorates Herod's order to kill all new born boys
in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus. It has become México's equivalent
of April Fools' Day, when people play tricks and practical jokes on each
other. Is it not the fate of innocents in this world to be made fools of?
Wednesday Jan. 6
Day of Kings
The 12th Night of Christmas, Epiphany or Day the Kings, is the
traditional day for Christmas gift giving in México. It was the three
kings, or Magi; Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar who brought the gifts to
the baby Jesus. (More on Christmas traditions)