This Month in Puerto

Friday 10
"Miguelismo": Works by Miguel Angel Hernández
This Oaxacan artist is best know for his figurative oils depicting sea animals. Show runs through July 8
Becasurf Language & Cultural Center, 2ª Norte, at 3ª Oriente

Sat 11 - Mon 13
Fiesta of San Antonio de Padua
A traditional coast fiesta featuring parades, dances, a rodeo and the lighting of the castillo, a tower affixed with fireworks in a traditional display of pyrotechnic magic.

San Antonio is located on the main coast highway to Pochutla at the road that leads to Mazunte, site of the Mexican Turtle Center Turtle. Other towns and neighborhoods in the region named for this saint will also celebrate during these days.

Sunday 19
Father's Day
Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington first proposed a day to honor her father, a civil War veteran, in 1909 and it quickly took root. And in 1924 Pres. Calvin Coolidge proclaimed June 19 a national celebration for the nation's dads. In 1966 Pres. Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation making the third Sunday in June as the day, as it is in México.

Tuesday 21
Anniversary of Founding of San Pedro Mixtepec
The administrative center of the county (municipio) that includes most of Puerto Escondido celebrates the 376th anniversary of its founding today with a civic ceremony and cultural program.
6 p.m. Municipal Plaza, San Pedro Mixtepec

First Day of Summer
It begins officially at 1:46 a.m.

Wed 22 - Fri 24
Fiesta of Saint John the Baptist
Santos Reyes Nopala
This important center of Chatino culture is always an interesting place to visit, especially during one of its traditional mayordomia fiestas in which a 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. Neighbors help out, but it is a huge financial burden and also a great honor for the mayordomo.

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. This one is a "horse fiesta", which includes horseback processions and horse racing that has roots in pre-Colombian religious rituals. The object is to capture the live chicken strung up by its feet above the track.

Nopala sits on a hilltop surrounded by even loftier peaks thick with trees. Coffee is a staple of the economy here, which has helped Nopala maintain its scenic beauty. The coffee bushes need the shade of larger trees, so the area remains heavily wooded.

The views are spectacular: steep, narrow alleyways drop away to reveal mosaics of tiled roofs and patios (where the beans are sun dried), the river valley dotted with hillocks and the mountains. It's great town to explore: the churches, the market (Nopala has a traditional Indian market on Sundays.) and small restaurants where you can sometimes find venison, quail or crayfish on the menu.

You can see archeological remains of the ancient culture in the municipal palace, the kiosk in the main plaza, and in some private homes. These stelae, large stone carvings, date from around 600 to 800 AD and are believed to be funereal monuments to great chiefs and priests.

Annual Fair
San Andres Copala
Program of events was unavailable as we went to press.

Mon 27 - Wed 29
Fiesta of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
An important religious observance in many communities, including Santa Maria Colotepec and the afore-mentioned Santos Reyes Nopala.

Fiesta of Saint Peter & Saint Paul
San Pedro Mixtepec The annual patron saint fiesta begins with the convite and calenda, processions through the streets of the town to invite participation in the celebration. Led by a brass band and huge papier-mache puppets, there's dancing and a festive ambiance.

There will also be sports events, the jaripeo rodeo, the castillo fireworks display and dances. Other communities in the area celebrate this apostle's feast day (and for St. Paul), including Pochutla and Tutútepec. In Santos Reyes Nopala, it is cause for another "horse fiesta"

Thursday 30
Night of Sorrow
In 1520 Aztec troops led by Cuitláhuac attacked Spanish forces killing 400 Spaniards and 2,000 Indians loyal to them, forcing Cortes and the survivors to flee the city of Tenochtitlan.

The attack came in response to the brutal slaughter of hundreds of Aztec nobles participating in religious rites in the temple. Legend has it that the distraught Cortes wept beneath an ahuehuete tree over la Noche Triste, Night of Sorrow.

Read This Month's Feature Articles:
San Pedro
Airport and Bus Station
Fishing