Today is also the Fourth Friday of Lent, occasion for a major fiesta in Huaxpala (San Andres Huaxpaltepec), which transforms this Mixtec town, midway between Jamiltepec and Pinotepa Nacional, into a huge country fair and bazaar.
Monday 7 - Tues 22
Red Cross Fund Drive
The annual national collection for the Red Cross kicks off with a social
event at 10 a.m., Monday 7th, on the Esplanade at City Hall. There'll
be volunteers soliciting contributions all over town, including on the
beaches. Or, you can make a direct deposit into the Red Cross account at
Banamex # 914 - 35898.
Tuesday 8
International Women's Day
"Just Women" Open House and Art exhibition by three women painters, including the
talented Eva Laemmler, at Puerto's new language school, in celebration
of women everwhere.
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. BecaSurf Language School, 2ª norte, at the corner of 3ª
oriente.
Friday 11, 18, 25
Timi O'Tools
High energy funk band from México City, at Puerto's new venue for live
music and cultural events, formerly Tequila Sunrise.
No Limits, Av. Marina Nacional, ½ a block above the Adoquín.
Saturday 12
Trio Costa Chica
A night of romantic music featuring one of the best trios on the coast,
musicians who were contemporaries of the great Oaxacan composer Alvaro
Carrillo; they knew him and play his music the way it was meant to be
played.
In the pleasant surroundings of the Villa Sol Beach Club, 8 p.m.
$50.ºº cover includes beverage.
Saturday 12
Rodeo & Dance
Lupillo Rivera
The brothers Carvajal run the original Puerto hardware store, Don Felix,
now called Cero Costa, where they'll give you a shot of mescal while
you're waiting to buy that whatsit. But their real passion is the
jaripeo, bull-riding rodeo.
They built the handsome rodeo ring on the outskirts of town and have
brought in internationally-known artists to pair with first rate rodeo
competition.This month's performer is Lupillo Rivera, one the major
stars of Méxican nortreña and grupera music with a following on both
sides of the border.
$150.ºº in advance, a little more at the door; children $50.ºº
Plaza de Toros La Costeñita.
Thursday 17
St. Patrick's Day
Last month we had the blues. Now it's time to break out the green. Enjoy
a traditional corned beef and cabbage feast and other Hibernian
delicacies at Art & Harry's on Playa Zicatela.
Friday 18
Anniversary of the Nationalization of the Oil Industry
The great populist president Lázaro Cárdenas signed the proclamation
declaring Méxican ownership of this important national resource on Mar.
18. 1938, after the foreign oil companies refused to accept arbitration
to end a long and bitter strike by oil workers. The anniversary is
celebrated with civic events and rightfully extolled as a critical
milestone in Méxican economic history.
Thurs 17 - Sat 19
Fiesta of Saint Joseph
Countless towns and neighborhoods are named for San José the great
patriarch, Joseph, husband of Mary and father of Jesus. His feast day,
March 19 is also Day of the Carpenter, for obvious reasons. Many of
these communities will celebrate their annual fair, in honor of their
patron saint, this month. Traditional saint's fiestas on the coast
include calendas, lively processions through the streets with brass
bands, huge papier-mache puppets and candle-lit globes inviting
participation in the festivities.
There are fireworks displays and jaripeos (bull riding rodeo competitions), dances with live bands and sports events, including often cockfights and horse races. There are also carnival rides and a midway, food stalls and huge bazaars with itinerant vendors offering all kinds of household goods. The closest San José to Puerto is San José Manialtepec, about 10 minutes beyond the recreation areas around Manialtepec Lagoon. There's also San José del Progreso about an hour's drive further west on the Coast Highway. San José del Pacifico is about three-hours drive up in the pine forests of the high Sierra.
For more on these three Joes, see our suggested day trips
Sunday 20
Palm Sunday
No shortage of palms here for the faithful who mark Jesus' triumphant
return to Jerusalem with processions and religious observances,
officially ending the 40 days of Lent.
First Day of Spring
It begins officially at 6:33 a..m.
Sunday 20 - Sun 27
Easter Week
It starts with Palm Sunday observances, culminates in Good Friday,
"Saturday of Glory" and Easter Sunday, and that's the biggest holiday
weekend of the year. Apart from the religious rituals, there are plenty
of profane diversions to amuse the hordes of visitors, who will descend
on Puerto Escondido and every other resort in México. Among them: the
Fiesta del Mar, a program of music and entertainment on Playa Principal;
a beach fiesta with fishing tournament, Miss Bikini contest and what
have you at Barra de Colotepec and the Ecology and Folkloric Fiesta in
Barra de Navidad.
For more on these and other "Holy Week" activities,
see our story
Monday 21
Birthday of Benito Juárez
Among its many illustrious sons, Oaxaca produced two dominant figures in
Méxican history. One is Porfirio Diaz, the president who didn't know
when to quit, and whose excesses gave birth to the Méxican Revolution.
The other is Benito Juárez, the Zapotec Indian who rose from humble
origins to become the most revered leader in Méxican history and, indeed, all of Latin America.
Benito Pablo Juárez García was born on March 21, 1806 in the village of San Pablo Guelatao, Ixtlán, Oaxaca. Orphaned at age four, he learned to speak Spanish and to read and write at the age of 12, when he was sent by his impoverished relatives to Oaxaca and taken into a seminary for an education.
He went on to study law and at age 28 began his career in public office as a councilman in the town. He later served as state deputy, a civil and finance judge, secretary of state, governor and, seven times, president of México.
During his long political life he suffered jail terms and exile. He led the resistance to the French invasion under the Emperor Maximilian and guided the country through a time of vicious internal struggles to establish La Reforma, the series of reforms that limited the powerhold of the church, foreign business interests and the old ruling class.
Most of all, Juárez is remembered for his honesty, unimpeachable integrity and humanity. His quote "Respect for the rights of others brings peace" (El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz) is the motto on the seal of the state of Oaxaca. This statesman is honored throughout México and indeed the world.
A national holiday, banks and government offices are closed. A civic ceremony to honor the great man is normally held at 9 a.m. at City Hall Esplanade and at 5 p.m., there is usually a children's parade to celebrate Spring and Juárez ending with a cultural program, also at the Explanada de la Agencia Municipal. (Program was unconfirmed at press time.)
Monday 22
International Water Day
Monday 28 - Fri 8
Annual Fair
San Gabriel Mixtepec
The official feast day for Saint Gabriel the Apostle is actually in
September. But, because this is often the wettest month of the year, and
nobody wants it to rain on their parade, this town's big fiesta normally
takes place around the 23rd and 24th of March. This year, because these
dates conflict with Easter Week, the fair has been pushed back a week.
(We were unable to obtain a program of events as we went to press.)
San Gabriel Mixtepec is an attractive foothills community, surrounded by rich vegetation and abundant wildlife. Its riverbanks and waterfalls are popular picnic sites. San Gabriel is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Puerto, it's where you would leave Highway 137 for Santos Reyes Nopala.
Sunday April 3
Daylight Savings Begins
Spring Forward!
It takes effect at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April, when clocks are
to be set forward one hour (i.e. 2 a.m. becomes 3 a.m.).