Easter in Mexico – Celebrating along the Oaxaca Coast

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All along the Oaxaca coast, from Puerto Escondido to Puerto Angel, many families take time off to enjoy the beautiful beaches and celebrate the Holy Week of Easter.  Families travel far distances to visit Puerto Angel to Puerto Escondido, spending time with family, attending church and enjoying the beautiful beaches and attractions.

Holy Week or “Semana Santa” is from Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday.  During this time woven crosses are made to protect homes and belongings are sold in the markets, plazas and in front of churches. On Holy Thursday visits are made to “the seven houses” or churches, with altars set up for “La Dolorosa”, (Our Lady of Sorrows) with “chía” seeds sprouting green out of clay animals (symbolizing the Resurrection) and flowers and leaves of the maguey plant.

On Good Friday the Passion and Crucifixion are acted out with holy images or live actors.

On Easter Sunday the Resurrection is celebrated with masses at midnight Saturday and at six on Sunday morning. At ten on Sunday the church bells ring to celebrate the “Misa de Gloria”. In villages such as Zimatlán and Huixtepec the churches are filled with hundreds of vases of flowers and life-sized statues of the risen Christ.

It’s really an amazing time to be here.  To watch the Mexicans re-enact the Passion Play of Christ, to see the streets are filled with people celebrating, attending church and enjoying time with their families on the beach and in the local restaurants.

At night you can check out the many vendors in Puerto Angel, Zipolite, San Agustinillo and Mazunte.  There is tons of entertainment and music going on in the streets.

And just another reason to love Mexico and it’s amazing culture!