As we enter the ninth year of El Sol de la Costa, I have decided to change the publishing schedule of the paper. In the wonderful state of Oaxaca, nothing fits neatly into fixed categories. Similarly the cycle of life and events doesn't always correspond to the 12 months of the year. So while El Sol de la Costa will still publish 12 times a year, it won't arrive in your hands at the beginning of the month, but around the middle.
This issue, for example, is the January/February edition, Next month's will be February/March. Get it? The idea is to give you the most up-to-date and usable information. Details of events are rarely available here more than a week or two before they take place. I also have to accommodate the advertisers who want to appear in the issue -- often at the very last minute -- and they do, after all, pay the bills. So there you have it. I've given in to reality. -- Warren Sharpe, Editor
Friday 6
Day of Kings
The 12th Night of Christmas, or Day the Kings, is the traditional day
for Christmas gift giving in Mééxico. Kids expect their Christmas gifts
today from the Three Kings, (not in a stocking filled by Santa.) One of
the traditions of the holiday is sharing the Rosca de Reyes, the Kings'
Ring, a cake in which are hidden small plastic dolls, representing the Christ child.
Whomever receives a piece of cake containing the doll must host a party on Feb. 2, Candlemas.
Tue 10, Thu 12, Sat 14
Puerto Blues 2006
Paul James
The award-winning Canadian roots rocker opens this year's anxiously
awaited Blues Festival.
8 p.m. Villa Belmar Beach Club, Playa Zicatela
Tuesday 10 - Fri 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 Mexico'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 in 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.
Schedule of events was unavailable at press time.
Friday 13 - Tue 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 led by a brass band and huge papier-maché puppets, 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.
There's a three-day cockfighting tournament Fri. 13 through Sun 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. 14, 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 popular music known as chilenas.
Partial Program of Events:
Friday 13
4 p.m. Convite
8 p.m. Calenda
Friday 13, Saturday 14, Sunday 15
5 p.m. Cock fights
Saturday 14
10 p.m. Fireworks
11 p.m. Dance with live band
Sunday 15
5 p.m. Jaripeo rodeo
Monday 16
3 p.m. Horse Races
6 p.m. Greased Pig and Pole Contests
Tuesday 17
5 p.m. Donkey Race
9 p.m. Dance
Wednesday 18 - Sat 21
Fiesta of the Sweet Name of Jesus
San Juan Lachao
This community in the Chatino hill country in Pueblo Nuevois known for
its nearby waterfalls, favorite spots for picnicking and worth a daytrip
for the adventurous. Partial program:
Wednesday 18
6 p.m. Convite
7 p.m. Calenda
Thursday 19
10 p.m. Castillo
11 p.m. Dance
Friday 20
9 p.m. Dance
Saturday 21
2 p.m. Jaripeo
9 p.m. Dance
Tue 24, Thu 26, Sat 28
Puerto Blues 2006
Jimmy Bowskill
See our story
8 p.m. Villa Belmar Beach Club
Saturday, 28
Rodeo & Comedy Show
All-Star Jaripeo bull-riding competition, then a show by national TV star
comedian "La Chupita", which means "the drunk"
7 p.m. La Costeñita Rodeo Park
Tue 31, Sat, Feb. 4
Puerto Blues 2006
Jerome Godboo
See our story
Thursday, 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. Many families party with tamales, the host being the person who found the doll in the Rosca de Reyes on the Day of Kings.
Annual Fair for La Candelaria in the colonia of the same name in San Pedro Mixtepec and in Candelaria, Loxicha.
Sunday, Feb. 5
Constitution Day
The Constitution of 1917 was adopted on this day under Venustiano
Carranza. National holiday, but also a Sunday.
Sunday, Feb. 5
Super Bowl XL
Well, some of us care about the last game of the season.