This Month in Puerto

EVENTS UPDATE / NOTICIAS DEL ULTIMO MOMENTO

Saturday 1 - Wed 12
Annual Fair, Santos Reyes Nopala
Just an hour and a half from Puerto, this ancient and attractive hill top town honors its patron saints, the "Holy Kings" or the Magi, the Wise Men Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar with two full weeks of religious rites, feasting, cultural events, dances, rodeos and all the festivities of a traditional Oaxacan mayordomia fiesta. The festival mayordomo or sponsor, named by the town authorities the year before, is responsible for throwing the party, which means providing food and entertainment for all who show up.

It's quite a sight to see the women tending huge cauldrons of beans, mountains of tortillas and vast sides of beef. There's also lots of tepache, fermented cane juice and champurrada, hot chocolate with corn atole.

See more on this fascinating center of Chatino Indian culture.

Here's some of the program of activities:
Wednesday 5
8 p.m. Chatino Fiesta Cultural program
11 p.m. Castillo Fireworks display
Thursday 6
10 p.m. Distribution of gifts to local kids for Day of the Kings
9 p.m. Dance
Friday 7
9 a..m. Chatino Art Exhibition
9 p.m. Dance
Saturday 8
4 p.m. Cockfight Tournament, Jaripeo, bull riding rodeo
9 p.m. Dance
Sunday 8
4 p.m. Cockfight Tournament Jaripeo, bull riding rodeo

Thursday 6
Day of Kings
The 12th Night of Christmas, or Day the Kings, is the traditional day for Christmas gift giving in México. Kids expect their Christmas gifts today from the Three Kings, (not in a stocking filled by Santa, although the onslaught of all-pervasive North American culture is slowing eroding local traditions, just as Halloween is creeping into Days of the Dead.) One of the traditions of the holiday is the Rosca de Reyes, the Kings' Ring, a cake in which are hidden small dolls, representing the Christ child. Whomever receives a piece of cake containing the doll must host a party on Feb. 2, Candlemas.

In many communities, the local authorities hold parties and supply donated gifts to the neediest children. Here in Puerto the event takes place at the Municipal Agency at 4:30 p.m.

Monday 10 - Thu 13
Annual Fair, Santa María Colotepec
This week the neighboring town of Colotepec honors its patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. The feast day for México's national saint is actually Dec. 12, but it isn't unusual for the many communities named for her to hold their festivities around the 12th day of other months. This practice dates back to the days when there simply weren't enough circuit priests available to officiate in the smaller, outlying communities.
Here's some of the events taking place:
Monday 10
6 p.m. Convite, festive procession to announce the beginning of the fiesta.
7:30 p.m. Calenda, more of the same, but with candle-lit lanterns
Tuesday 11
10 a.m. Soccer tournament
Wednesday 12
3 p..m. Jaripeo rodeo
9 p.m. Castillo fireworks
10 p.m Gala Dance featuring Mar Azul and Sonido Azteca
Thursday 13
11 a.m. Horse races

Thurs 13 - Mon 17
Fiesta of the Virgin of the Poor, Col. Lázaro Cardenas
Lázaro Cárdenas is the original and Puerto's most populous colonia (neighborhood). Named for the immensely popular Mexican president who nationalized the oil industry, it is located beside the army base and runs up the hill across the highway above Zicatela Beach.

It is a modest neighborhood of fishermen and working people, so it is appropriate that, when a small chapel was built in the neighborhood in 1989, the Virgin of the Poor was adopted as the patron saint.

This week is the annual fair in honor of the patrona. It is a traditional fiesta with all the trimmings, but on a scale small enough to really enjoy. It begins with the traditional convite and calenda parades to invite everyone to participate.

A small carnival sets up, offering rides, a midway and haunted house. There are wild horse races through the streets and other sports events.

A palenque will be set up for cockfights on Fri. 14 and Sat. 15. A great deal of money changes hands during the course of these battles and the long intervals between fights are filled with invitations to wager more money on assorted card games.

The major night of entertainment is Sat. Jan. 15, when the fireworks of the castillo are set off. The castle is a tower of cane and bamboo, or more commonly these days, wood strips. It is rigged with a series of spinning, whizzing, exploding wheels that are set off in ascending sequence from a single match.

It is a spectacular display of pyrotechnic magic, preceded by the running of the toritos, little bulls , in which the local youths don a bull- shaped structure affixed with more fireworks and race around in a blaze of smoke, fire and explosions. It's a great show, just keep your distance.

The jaripeo is another fiesta staple. It is the local rodeo with bull-riding contests. There is normally a full band in attendance belting out the local music known as chilenas.
Partial Program of Events:
Thursday 13
4 p.m. Convite
8 p.m. Calenda
Friday 14, Saturday 15
9 p.m. Cock fights
Saturday 15
10 p.m. Fireworks
11 p.m. Dance with live band
Sunday 16
4 p.m. Jaripeo rodeo,
Monday 17
1 p.m. Horse Races

Tue 11, Thu 13, Sat 15
Puerto Blues 2005
Jack de Keyzer & Dave Rotundo
The return of Jack de Keyzer, Canada's King of Blues. A brilliant guitarist and vocalist, Jack will share the stage with blues harp Dave Rotundo and friends to launch the Puerto Blues 2005.
7:30 p.m. Villa Belmar Beach Club, Playa Zicatela

Saturday 15
Guardianes de Amor & Banda Maguey
Two of the most popular and enduring national pop groups play Puerto today. The Guardians of Love have been together for 12 years, updating their romántic repertoire with a mix of hip hop & regional urban sounds. Banda Maguey is a big band act which encompasses Ranchera, Ballads, Cumbia, with occasional techno and symphonic flourishes.
10 p.m. Benito Juárez Sports Center

Tuesday 18 - Fri 21
Fiesta of the Sweet Name of Jesus
San Juan Lachao This community in the Chatino hill country in Pueblo Nuevo holds its annual fair this week,with the usual lineup of activities. It is known for its nearby waterfalls, favorite spots for picnicking and worth a day trip for the adventurous. (Ask for las cascadas.)
Partial program:
Tuesday 18
6 p.m. Convite
7 p.m. Calenda
Wednesday 19
9 p.m. Castillo fireworks
11 p.m.Dance
Thursday 20
9 p.m. Dance
Friday 21
2 p.m. Jaripeo
9 p.m. Dance

Saturday 22
Awakenings
An exhibition of 15 paintings (oil on canvas) by local artist Maritza Castillejos Santiago, also known as Macas. Originally from Juchitan, Oaxaca, her abstract and subjective expression draws inspiration from images of nature: turtles, flowers, seascapes etc.
Opening Party: 7:30 p.m.
Hotel Santa Fe Conference & Events Center, Zicatela

Tue 25, Thu 27, Sat 29
Puerto Blues 2005
Paul James
An award-winning Canadian roots and rock musician, Paul James stars in the second set of concerts of Puerto Blues 2005. See story
7:30 p.m. Villa Belmar Beach Club, Playa Zicatela

Wednesday, Feb. 2
Candlemas (Candelaria), is the final observance of the Christmas season. Forty days after the birth of the Christ Child, according to Jewish law, Mary and Joseph would have presented their child at the Temple.

The term comes from the old Spanish word for candle (in México the word vela is used more often than candela). In religious terms, it suggests that the child has been shown the Light of the World by being taken into the church.

In many communities, the doll representing the child Christ in the household Nativity is dressed up in elaborate satin clothing and taken to mass.

Annual Fair for La Candelaria in the colonia of the same name in San Pedro Mixtepec and in Candelaria, Loxicha.

Saturday, Feb. 5
Constitution Day
The Constition of 1917 was adopted on this day under Venustiano Carranza. National holiday: Banks, government offices and some businesses will be closed.

Sunday, Feb. 6
Super Bowl
Well, some of us care.

Read This Month's Feature Articles:
Music 2005
Communities