Of all the events and holidays I happened to run into, the anniversary in Oaxaca was one of the coolest and nicest ones. The anniversary in Oaxaca is celebrated with lots of dancing, music, mezcal and fireworks. Everyone is out on the streets, there is a parade and lots to see.
The year I happened to be there, for example, there was also a food festival. Meaning there was a huge tent with hundreds of different food stalls. Outside, right next door, whole pigs – yes, I’m serious – were being turned round on skewers. A little further on, a – I think – community centre was selling homemade and/or fresh Oaxaquenian food. Here I also bought a handmade hand cream with real vanilla. I still have that cream and it smells wonderful!
My original destination that day was a market that I wanted to go to with a friend of mine with whom I had travelled from San Cristóbal. As we had been travelling with a larger group for some time, we actually wanted a bit of peace and quiet. After a brief visit to the market, we went back out onto the street and suddenly found ourselves in the middle of the beginning of the parade. There was music playing, we saw these white balls spinning all the time and everything full of people. Some dressed up, the majority not. To be honest, we were a little confused in the beginning, as we didn’t now what was going on. We soon though found out.

As we were both really curious, we just went for it and managed to find a spot where it was a little less busy and where we had a good view of the parade. As soon as it started, we were offered mezcal made from hollowed-out green chilli peppers with red powder on top. Free and purely to celebrate the day. We were passed by people in impressive costumes, dance groups, people with elaborate baskets and other complicated hats and lots and lots of men carrying these big white balls that were constantly spinning. It was…. To be honest, it reminded me a bit of carnival. I was born in Cologne, so I know that kind of hustle and bustle from carnival. Of course, it was different here, but…. Nevertheless, it was similar enough to make me feel at home. It was literally just one big party and really great!

At some point, we joined the parade. It went on for quite a while and then ended at the large cathedral in the centre, where the first people had already arrived and a circle had already formed. At first I briefly wondered what everyone was leaving so much space for. A short time later I knew. Fireworks! Coming from the constructions that people were carrying above their heads. Someone just walked to the centre of the open space in front of the church, started spinning and off the firworks went. And I’m not talking about a small firework. I’m talking about wild firework sparks that spiralled around. A picture I’ll never forget. To give you a better idea, below are pictures and videos. And all of this, of course, without any barriers or fire protection etc. Completely unthinkable in Europe. And admittedly a bit dangerous. But everything was still fine. And literally everyone hat these constructions on their heads. Young people, women, men… and they all went into the centre of the square one after the other plus at a safe distance from each other and started spinning in circles. It was…. Just really great. Definitely in the top 3 events I ran into completely randomly. The anniversary in Oaxaca is really an experience in itself. The joy of the people, the exuberance, the hospitality, the music. The costumes, the parade, the fireworks…. If you have the opportunity to be in Oaxaca for the anniversary…. It’s worth it! 😊 😀