Showing posts with label Posadas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Posadas. Show all posts

Saturday, January 12, 2013

El Zócalo



El Zócalo de Oaxaca ha existido desde 1529. A la llegada de los españoles establecen Oaxaca como muchas ciudades creadas durante este período, con edificios de Iglesia y gobierno alrededor de una plaza y calles con coordenadas rectangulares que se extiende desde la Plaza.


The Zócalo, of Oaxaca has existed since 1529. On arrival, the Spanish laid out Oaxaca like many cities created during this period, with church and government buildings around a square and streets with rectangular coordinates extending from the Plaza. 


En el lado sur del Zócalo, está el Museo del Palacio Espacio de la diversidad, o el Palacio del Gobernador original, construido en 1832. En el lado norte se encuentra el Hotel Marqués Del Valle. En el oeste de el hotel el Zócalo se abre a la Alameda de León. Los lados este y oeste son en su mayoría llena de restaurantes. Durante el dominio colonial, el lugar no tenía pavimento o paseos, sólo una fuente de mármol construida en 1739 y posteriormente, se elimina para dar lugar al primer quiosco en 1857. En 1885 una estatua de Benito Juárez se reemplazó el quiosco. En 1901 la actual kiosco fue construido en un estilo art nouveau con una cubierta metálica y pasamanos de hierro forjado sustitución Benito Juárez. El Zócalo es una parte central de lo que hace que Oaxaca aparece como patrimonio cultural de la humanidad por la UNESCO.


On the south side of the Zócalo is the Museo del Palacio Espacio de la Diversidad, or the original Governor’s Palace, built in 1832.  On the north side is the Hotel Marques Del Valle.  To the west of the hotel the Zócalo opens out to the Alameda de León.  The east and west sides are mostly filled with restaurants. During colonial rule, the place had no pavement or side walks, only a marble fountain built in 1739 and later removed to make way for the first kiosk in 1857.  In 1885 a statue of Benito Juarez replaced the kiosk. In 1901 the current kiosk was built in an art nouveau style with a metal cover and wrought iron railings replacing Benito Juarez.  The Zócalo is a central part of what makes Oaxaca listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO.


Alameda de León contiguo es otro plaza, con el correos al oeste y la Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción al este, al principio construido en 1535.

The adjoining Alameda de León is another plaza with the post office to the west and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption to the east, originally built in 1535.


El Zócalo sirve como un lugar de reunión habitual tanto políticas como sociales. La Banda del Estado de Oaxaca tiene conciertos en el Zócalo Capitalino los domingos a las 12:30.

The Zócalo serves as a central gathering place both social and political.  La Banda del Estado de Oaxaca has concerts in the Zócalo on Sundays at 12:30. 


El miércoles por la noche que se puede participar en el Danzón con la banda de Marimba.

On Wednesday evenings you can participate in the Danzón with the Marimba Band. 


Otros conciertos se celebran aquí intermitentemente.

Other concerts are held here intermittently. 


El 23 de diciembre, La Noche de Rabanos llena el Zócalo.

On the 23rd of December, La Noche de Rabanos fills the Zócalo.


La noche siguiente los Posadas desfilan por el Zócalo.

The next night the Posadas parade through the Zócalo.


En el frente político, diversos grupos han acampado de protesta frente al Palacio del Gobernador. En el año 2002 los oaxaqueños protestaban contra McDonalds que intentó abrir un restaurante en el Zócalo Capitalino. Protestaban por tener un festival los tamales.

On the political front, various groups have camped in protest in front of the Governor’s Palace.  In 2002 the Oaxaqueños protested against McDonalds who attempted to open a restaurant on the Zócalo.  They protested by having a tamales festival. 


Además de las cafeterías y restaurantes que rodean Zócalo, mucho otro comercio ocurre aquí. Es posible comprar la ropa y la joyería, conseguirle los zapatos brillaron, para comprar juguetes para sus niños, comprar flores y cualquier número de otras cosas.


Other than the cafes and restaurants that surround the Zócalo, much other commerce takes place there.  It’s possible to buy clothes and jewelry, get you shoes shined, buy toys for your kids, buy flowers, and any number of other things.





Thursday, February 10, 2011

Las Posadas


So you’ve already looked up posada in google translate and it came up as inn. Bingo! Posadas, held during the nine days before Christmas, recall the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem where they seek a place to stay to await the birth of Jesus. The 9 days honor the 9 months of Mary’s pregnancy. Pre-Columbian Mexico celebrated the arrival of Huitzilopochtli (god of war) during the winter or Panquetzaliztli, from December 17 to 26, which coincided with the time when Europeans celebrate Christmas. Close enough for folks to switch. Posadas are held by all the churches and most neighborhoods but the big ones are on Christmas Eve.

A posada starts with a procession featuring Mary and Joseph, in Oaxaca played by children, and a group of faithful followers usually with candles. But let’s not get too solemn, the procession includes bands, fireworks, and large paper mache figures. These days Mary and Joseph get to ride on a float (usually a decorated flatbed truck) and angels, shepherds, and wise men come along for the ride. Hey, you wouldn’t want your kid left out either. The posada procession goes from house to house (that’s after a few laps of the zócalo to show off) singing for a place to stay, getting turned down, until at last doors open and they’ve found the party. It is customary to pray the Rosary because the celebration is for the love of Mary and to celebrate that she is about to give birth to Jesus. During the posada children break the piñata. This activity is filled with symbols and analogies. The piñata must have 7 points representing the 7 deadly sins but it must be full of candy representing the grace of God. The act of breaking the piñata can be interpreted more or less as follows: Each of us with blind faith (blindfolded) in support of God (the club) are fighting sin (trying to hit the piñata). We help our brothers and we indicate the way forward (people screaming) and when we will eventually overcome sin (break the piñata) God's grace (the candy) spills over us. The posada ends with a fellowship in which the guests drink and dine, usually a big planned potluck.



Another important custom in Mexico is for families to own an image of the Christ child, a niño Dios. A godparent is chosen for the niño Dios, who is then responsible for hosting various celebrations between Christmas and El Día de la Candelaria, Candlemas. On Christmas eve the niño Dios is placed in the Nativity scene, on January 6th, King's Day, the child is brought presents from the Magi, along with presents for the children. A key tradition of King’s Day is the Rosca de Reyes which is a sweet bread baked in the form of a crown. It's filled with nuts, figs and cherries and decorated with pieces of orange and lime and is served with hot chocolate. There is a small doll baked inside the bread to remember how Jesus had to be hidden from King Herod and his army. The person who finds the doll is responsible for hosting Candlemas Day on February 2nd.

El Día de la Candelaria, like many other Mexican celebrations, represents a fusion of pre-Hispanic traditions and Catholic beliefs. Celebrated on February 2nd, it falls forty days after Christmas, and is celebrated by Catholics as the "Feast of Purification" or as the "Presentation of Christ at the Temple." According to Jewish law it was customary to bring a baby to the temple after that period of time had passed. February also 2nd marks the mid-way point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. This may be a vestige of an old Pagan Tradition, since Feb. 2 has long been thought to be a marker or predictor of the weather to come. Remember that in the US Feb. 2 is celebrated as Groundhog Day, but back to Mexico. El Día de la Candelaria is a follow-up to the festivities of King's Day and Tamales are the food of choice. But this post is about posadas and the pictures are of the processions. I hope you take time to check out the photos.