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Guelaguetza the Celebration of Lunes del Cerro
Oaxaca Mexico - Guelaguetza or the celebration of Lunes del Cerro (Mondays on the Hill), which takes place during the month of July in the state of Oaxaca, is one of most magnificent examples of the diverse and colorful roots of Mexico’s popular culture.
The name Guelaguetza dates back to Zapotec times, meaning an offering or gift representing the highest civility. The Zapotecs had a very strong spiritual community and they helped one another in agricultural labors and daily activities. The Guelaguetza is one of the many examples of ritual gift exchanges.
Over 3,000 years ago, the indigenous residents of what today is known as the state of Oaxaca, dedicated themselves to cultivate various plants, among them was corn, the most distinguished and basic element of their diet.
When Mexicas conquered the territories belonging to Mixteco and Zapotec natives, they brought with them their own religious ceremonies. In July, they honored Centéotl; God of Corn, Xilonen was the Goddess of Tender Corn and Huitzilopochtli was God of War. These rituals would commence with a meal offered to all those present. On the tenth day of the month, after a ritual ceremony with songs and dances, a virgin dressed to represent the Goddess of Corn was sacrificed and her heart was offered to the divinity. Festivities would go on for nine days and Huitzilopochtli was honored towards the end of July with offerings and flowers.
After the conquest, Spaniards associated these festivities with the celebration of La Virgen del Carmen to aide in the conversion of the natives into Catholicism.
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