Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged Danza de la Pluma, danzantes, Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Teotitlán del Valle, Virgen de Guadalupe on December 13, 2018| 6 Comments »
Yesterday, we said farewell to the Teotitlán del Valle, Danza de la Pluma Promesa 2016-2018 guys — and two little gals.
El Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe marked the end of this group’s three-year commitment to dance for their faith and community.
With well over one thousand family, friends, community members, and visitors watching, they danced their hearts out.
And, after the skips, squats, twists, and leaps ended, there was nary a dry eye in the house. It was a fabulous night!
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged clowns, Mexico, Oaxaca, payasos, photos, popular travel destinations, Virgen de Guadalupe, Virgin of Guadalupe on December 11, 2018| 2 Comments »
Tomorrow is Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Celebrating the Queen of Mexico, Empress of America, and patron saint of Mexico isn’t just a one day event. In Oaxaca city, Llano Park/Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (at the north end of the park) is the epicenter of activities — including clowns.
The south half of Llano Park is taken up with a carnival and vendors selling toys, Christmas lights, and a variety of holiday decorations. Above that, there are aisles upon aisles of food stalls, and along the side the church, Guadalupe scenes, designed and constructed by scores of professional photographers vying for pesos for portraits, have been constructed.
As I write, Guadalupe’s children, the little Juan Diegos and their peasant sisters are lined up around the block. They have been brought by parents and grandparents to wait to enter the church to be blessed and then pose for portraits in one of the Guadalupe scenes. Hopefully, the payasos (clowns) provide some entertainment and much-needed distraction!
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged José Michael Méndez Miranda, Mexico, Noche de Rabanos, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, religious pilgrimages, Virgen de Juquila, Virgin of Juquila on December 8, 2018| Leave a Comment »
The booms and bells began yesterday morning announcing the faithful en route by bus, bicycle, motorcycle, and on foot to visit the image of la Virgen de Juquila high in the mountains between Oaxaca city and the Pacific coast.
Copy of the image of la Virgen de Juquila
According to legend, in 1633, when a fire burned the small Chatino village of Amialtepec to the ground, a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary was rescued amidst the ashes. She was undamaged, save for her light skin color, which was permanently darkened by the smoke, causing her to more closely resemble the Chatino people, who live in this remote mountainous region. Local priests declared her survival a miracle and she has been venerated ever since.
“Buscando la paz hastati. Virgencita de Juquila” by José Michael Méndez Miranda — Noche de Rabanos, 2017
Alas, that wasn’t the end of the story; the priest in the village of Juquila convinced the “powers that be” that she should be moved to the bigger and better church in Juquila. She, however, had other ideas and returned to Amialtepec. This back and forth continued another three times. Finally, in 1719, La Morenita (the dear dark one), as she had come to be known, gave up her traveling ways and agreed to call Santa Catarina Juquila her permanent home.
Home altar, 2016 — Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca
The faithful make pilgrimages to both her old and new mountain homes (about four hours southeast of Oaxaca city). They come year round to make offerings and pray for miracles, but especially during the days leading up to December 8.
Bus parked in Oaxaca city, December 7, 2018
She “is a symbol of love, of protection, of justice, of peace, of respect for human dignity.” And, because of her indigenous roots, “the homage to the Virgin of Juquila is similar to that rendered to the Virgin of Guadalupe, not only in Oaxaca, but also in Puebla, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Veracruz and Chiapas, as well as in the United States, for the religiosity of migrants.”
Altar with image of la Virgen de Juquila — Encuentro de Cocineras Tradicionales de Oaxaca 2018
On October 8, 2014, Juquila received a papal coronation, joining her previously crowned (1909) Oaxaca sister, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. And, as I write on the night of December 8, 2018, Soledad celebrates her hermana’s day with fireworks.
Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Culture, Flora, Travel & Tourism, tagged abandoned buildings, crumbling buildings, graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, plants, popular travel destinations, street art on December 6, 2018| 6 Comments »
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged dance, Danza de la Pluma, danzantes, Mexico, Oaxaca, Oaxaca Lending Library, photos, popular travel destinations, Teotitlán del Valle, Virgen de Guadalupe on December 2, 2018| 3 Comments »
If you are in town… As background to the December 12, Fiesta a la Virgen de Guadalupe performance of the Danza de la Pluma in Teotitlán del Valle, blogger buddy Chris (of Oaxaca-The Year After fame) and I are again doing a presentation at the Oaxaca Lending Library. It will be on Tuesday, December 4 at 5:00 PM. And, new this year: There will be very special guests!
From the library’s description of the talk, “The Danza de la Pluma, with its giant feathered headdresses, is one of the most famous dances performed in Oaxaca and is particularly special in the Zapotec weaving village of Teotitlán del Valle. The dance, dancers, and village all have rich stories. Come join Chris Stowens and Shannon Sheppard, who have spent several years observing and learning about this amazing culture, for a presentation filled with stories, photos and video.”
Alas, it’s not free. Besides memberships, presentations like this are what keeps the library afloat. The cost is 90 pesos for OLL members and 130 pesos for non-members. Reservations can be made using the library’s Online Store. Hope to see you on Tuesday!
Posted in Culture, Food, Restaurants, Travel & Tourism, tagged culinary traditions, Higadito, Las Quince Letras, Mexico, Mole de Cadera, Oaxaca, photos, Tlayuda, Tlayudas "El Negro", traditional cuisine on November 28, 2018| 4 Comments »
Oaxaca recently won the Food and Travel Reader Award 2018 in the category of Best Gourmet Destination in Mexico. At last, the rest of Mexico, not to mention the world, is acknowledging what Oaxaqueños have long known — the eight regions of Oaxaca offer some of the best, most complex traditional food in the world. From street food stands to food fairs to restaurants, I am almost never disappointed! Here are a few of the traditional dishes I’ve had the pleasure of eating in the past few weeks.
Higaditos in Villa Díaz Ordaz – Oct. 28, 2018
The first is Higaditos from Señora Cristina Cruz — an additional reason blogger buddy Chris and I returned to Díaz Ordaz for the Festival del Pan de Muerto. We have tasted many versions of this egg/chicken dish, but we agree that hers is the best — never mind that she has a smile that could light up the world.
Mole de Caderas at Las Quince Letras – Nov. 7, 2018
When chef Celia Florian announced that her restaurant, Las Quince Letras, would be featuring Mole de Caderas for a month, mi amiga (and cocinera) Kalisa and I made a beeline. Mole de Caderas is a traditional Mixtec dish from Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca and nearby Tehuacán, Puebla. It is made from the hip (cadera) and the spine of a goat that has been fed a salt-based diet to give the broth a unique flavor. It is only served during the fall, when the goats are made to make the ultimate sacrifice — and was absolutely delicious!
Tlayuda with tasajo at Tlayudas “El Negro”
And, finally, Oaxaca’s celebrated tlayuda — it and pozole are my favorite Oaxaca comfort foods. Neighbors and I decided to try out the newest location of Tlayudas El Negro on Independencia near Crespo. As you can see above, I ordered one with tasajo (thinly sliced beef) and garnished with the aromatic and flavorful herb, chepiche. Yummm… I will return.
What can I say? I feel so lucky to have landed in this culturally rich and seriously delicious corner of the world!
Posted in Culture, Technology, Travel & Tourism, tagged Black & white photos, connections, E.M. Forster quote, Mexico, Oaxaca, television cords on November 25, 2018| 5 Comments »
Restaurant still life in Oaxaca…
“Nonsense and beauty have close connections — closer connections than Art will allow.” —E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, Chapter 12 (1907).
Posted in Animals, Celebrations, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged El Día de Acción de Gracias, guajolote, Guelaguetza, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, San Antonino Castillo Velasco, Thanksgiving, turkey on November 22, 2018| 2 Comments »
Ya got your herbs, ya got your spices, ya got your smoker — smoked turkey, Oaxaca style!
San Antonino Castillo Velasco delegation, Guelaguetza desfile, July 21, 2018
In addition to my fabulous family, friends, blog readers, and indigenous peoples who survived genocide, colonization, and other inconvenient turkey day truths, I’m also feeling grateful for guajolotes. ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, History, Holidays, tagged Buen Fin, Día de la Revolución, documentary, history, Mexico, Oaxaca, Revolution Day, The Storm That Swept Mexico on November 20, 2018| 4 Comments »
Today, the 20th of November, Mexico commemorates the 108th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. It raged on for ten years, as various factions battled for power, and the peasantry fought for, in the words of Emiliano Zapata, ¡Tierra y libertad! (Land and liberty!)
From the smallest of pueblos to the mega metropolis of Mexico City, most every town and city has a street named 20 de noviembre, including Oaxaca. In addition, Oaxaca has a 20 de noviembre market, where you will find Conchita, my favorite chocolate store, Pasillo de Humo (hall of smoke/grilled meats), aisles of stalls filled with bread, and lines of counters offering menudo and other traditional street food — a very popular destination for locals and adventurous tourists.
Alas, the Mexican Revolution has a complex and bloody history — 1.9 to 3.5 million lives were lost, revolutionary leaders assassinated each other in turn, and promises were repeatedly broken. The goals of land, water, liberty, justice and law for the peasantry and workers went unrealized. However, once the armed conflict ended, a cultural revolution began that celebrated and honored working people, peasants, and Mexico’s indigenous roots and helped to forge a new Mexican identity. As the documentary The Storm That Swept Mexico concludes:
“If we celebrate the revolution, it appears as though we are celebrating the status quo: the miserable conditions of the farmers, workers and the average Mexicans. And if we are the inheritors of that revolution, then there is nothing to celebrate. Now if we think of the Revolution as an explosion of creative energy then I think we do have reason to celebrate because it was a movement to create a nation more just, more equal, more honest, and an identity we could be proud of.”
To highlight a Oaxaca connection, today’s NVI Noticias published the article, Enciende Madero mecha revolucionaria; Visita Oaxaca en 1909, about Francisco I. Madero’s visit to Oaxaca to light the fuse of revolution in this remote state.
By the way, in 2005, Article 74 of Mexican labor law established the third Monday of November as the “official” holiday — thus following the USA’s “time-honored tradition” of creating 3-day holiday weekends and setting the stage for the bargain hunting shopping extravaganza promoted as Buen Fin.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, food festival, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged bread of the dead, Day of the Dead, day of the dead bread, Día de los Muertos, feria, Mexico, Oaxaca, pan de muerto, photos, popular travel destinations, San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Villa Díaz Ordaz, Villa de Zaachila, Villa Hidalgo Yalalag on November 9, 2018| 8 Comments »
Several pan de muerto festivals sprung up in the valley of Oaxaca during Día de los Muertos — including a Festival del Pan de Muerto in Villa Díaz Ordaz, a Feria del Pan de Muerto Adornado in Villa de Zaachila, and a Feria del Pan y Chocolate in the city of Oaxaca. While the intention of these fairs is to attract tourists, both foreign and domestic, the primary market remains ofrendas (offerings) to the difuntos (departed) — who must be fed during their brief return to visit with their loved ones.
And, like apron styles, pan de muerto (bread of the dead) varies from village to village, be it sold at a feria, mercado, or neighborhood panadería.
Panadería Yalalag in Oaxaca city.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla.
Mercado, 20 de noviembre, Oaxaca city.
Villa de Zaachila.
Villa de Zaachila.
Villa de Zaachila.
Villa de Zaachila
Villa de Zaachila.
Though my difuntos have departed and my altar has been disassembled, I couldn’t consign my beautiful (but stale) pan de muerto offerings to the garbage can.
Pan de muerto from Yalalag, Mitla, and Zaachila.
So, here they remain in a basket on my counter — until they disintegrate or the hormigas (ants) enjoy a feast.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged cemetery, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, death, fruit, graves, Mexico, nuts, Oaxaca, Octavio Paz quote, panteón, photos, Tlacolula de Matamoros, tombs on November 3, 2018| 8 Comments »
Under the dappled sunlight filtering through the 500 year old ahuehuete trees in the panteón of Tlacolula de Matamoros, lovingly placed fruit and nuts nourish the souls. (Click on images to enlarge)
In the afternoon, when the light and shadows dance on the graves, beautiful still lifes greet the departed, their living family, friends, and visitors. It is a tranquil setting to contemplate the words of Octavio Paz (The Labyrinth of Solitude, the other Mexico, and essays, Grove Press, 1985, p. 54)
The opposition between life and death was not so absolute to the ancient Mexicans as it is to us. Life extended into death, and vice versa. Death was not the natural end of life but one phase of an infinite cycle.
Posted in Agriculture, Celebrations, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, farm to table, food, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, tamales, Teotitlán del Valle on November 1, 2018| 8 Comments »
Today, at 3:00 PM in Teotitlán del Valle, as leaves in the mountains and fields rustled, the arrival of the difuntos (departed) was announced with the sound of cohetes (rockets) and church bells. Incense burners were lit and placed in front of ofrendas in each home’s altar room — the smoke and scent of copal helping to guide the spirits home for their yearly twenty-four hour visit.
Tonight they will feast on tamales amarillos — special tamales that are traditionally served three times a year in Teotitlán — in July for the Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, in October for the Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario, and today, November first, in honor of the returning difuntos.
As we have done for many years, blogger buddy Chris and I came to the home of Zacarías Ruiz and Emilia Gonzalez with our offering of pan de muertos and a bottle of mezcal to place on their altar — paying our respects to their difuntos. In turn, we were offered mezcal and cervesas (beer), followed by the aforementioned tamales amarillos.
The tamales were days in the making. Several of the family’s organic free range chickens were sacrificed; corn from their milpa was nixtamalized to make a silky smooth masa; and the ingredients for mole amarillo were toasted, chopped, blended, and boiled. The final preparation began at 3:30 this morning — 250 tamales were assembled, filled, and wrapped in fresh green leaves from their milpa and placed in the steaming pots. The results were to die for!
For me, more than painted faces and parades, this is what makes experiencing Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca so special.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged altars, calaveritas, Catrinas, cempasuchitl, Día de los Muertos, flowers, incense, marigolds, Mexico, Oaxaca, ofrenda, papel picado, photographs, photos, sugar skulls, veruche on October 31, 2018| 17 Comments »
As my grandchildren finished their trick or treating up in el norte, I put the final touches on my Día de los Muertos ofrenda (offering) here in Oaxaca.
A yellow (the color of death in pre-hispanic southern Mexico) cloth covers two chests; papel picado (cut tissue paper), signifying the union between life and death, has been added, along with the traditional flowers of Day of the Dead — cempasúchil and veruche (domesticated and wild marigolds), their scent to guide the spirits, and cockscomb to symbolize mourning. Visitors brought the sunflower and, since my grandfather, father, and father-in-law were avid gardeners, it is for them!
There is salt to make sure the souls stay pure and chocolate, peanuts, pecans, apples, mandarin oranges, and pan de muertos (Day of the Dead bread) to nourish them.
The sweet smell of copal incense and its smoke help guide my loved ones to the feast I have prepared. And, there is water to quench their thirst, as they travel between worlds, not to mention mezcal and cervesa (beer).
But, most important of all, there are the tangible remembrances of my departed — photos and some of their favorite things.
Revolutionary catrina and catrin for my revolutionary comadre and compadre, Sylvia and Nat.
Yarn and a crochet hook for my dear grandmother who many of the abuelas (grandmothers) in Oaxaca remind me of — always wearing an apron, never wearing pants, and incredibly adept with crochet and embroidery thread. And, for my adored grandfather, a San Francisco Giants baseball cap. My grandparents moved next door at the same time the Giants moved from New York to San Francisco and grandpa and I listened to many games together on his transistor radio, as I helped him in the garden.
There are other cherished friends and relatives on my altar, but pride of place goes to my parents. For my father, who was killed when I was only two and a half, there is beer (below the above photo) — alas Victoria not Burgermeister! And for my mother, a fan to cool herself as she dances and a bottle of port to sip before she sleeps.
It’s been a two-day labor of love as I wanted everything to be perfect for my difutos (departed) to find their way and feel welcome in my Oaxaca home.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged calacas, Catrinas, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, faces, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, skeletons, skulls, street art, Villa de Zaachila, wall art on October 30, 2018| 4 Comments »
Not all the Día de los Muertos murals in Villa de Zaachila were finished, some were still works in progress…
with ladders and paints standing by…
waiting for their artists to pick up the brush…
or spray can, as the case may be.
I first saw many of the murals in the summer of 2017 and was happy to see they are still intact, albeit some are a little faded. Celebrated by the community, the new murals join the old and become a part of the landscape of the village.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged calacas, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, skulls, street art, Villa de Zaachila, wall art on October 27, 2018| 2 Comments »
A regalito (little gift) to my calaca and calavera loving grandson from today’s visit to Villa de Zaachila for their first Feria del Pan de Muerto, Mole, Chocolate y Espuma.
From murals along the outer side of the panteón (cemetery) in Villa de Zaachila. Click to enlarge images.
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