La Guelaguetza
Guelaguetza, La
Guelaguetza comes from the Zapotec language and means "the greatest of courtesies." It refers to the traditional way people exchanged gifts: helping each other build houses, tend to fields, assist with births and deaths. The name became linked with the Mondays of the Hill fiestas in the 20th century. Since the 1930s local craftspeople would give gifts they made to guests assembled for the dances, and in 1951 the event became known as La Guelaguetza. In 1974 the state built a special amphitheater to hold the growing numbers of people attending what is now one of the most popular folk festivals in Mexico.
Mexico State Tourism
Urawa No. 100
Toluca, 50150 Mexico
52-722-212-5998; fax: 52-722-212-1633
www.spanish-mexico.com
Mexico Tourism Board
21 E. 63rd St., Fl. 3
New York, NY 10021
800-446-3942 or 212-821-0314; fax: 212-821-0367
www.visitmexico.com
FiestaTime-1965, p. 117
IntlThFolk-1979, p. 274