CARNAVAL Y SEMANA SANTA
CARNIVAL AND EASTER

During “Semana Santa” (Easter), different religious celebrations take place in the Parish, Real Chapel and Convent; also with the churches from the villages. This celebrations start on “domingo de carnaval” (Sunday of carnival) which means the following Sunday of “miércoles de ceniza” (Wednesday of Ashes) this celebration has 600 dancers, around 200 and 2500 tourists. On “jueves santo” (Holy Thursday) there is a tradition called “Visita de las siete casas” (Visit of the seven houses), that takes place at night, until Friday; they spend this time making rugs with multicolor sawdust and altarpieces about Easter celebrations, and shown on “Holy Friday”. All this, made by craftsmen and craftswomen from Cholula.

On “viernes santo”, they use the “procesión de las tres caídas” (Procession of the 3 Falls). On sábado de Gloria (Glorious Saturday), there are activities in the water parks and “Glorious Mass” at 2pm. On “domingo de resurrección (“Sunday of Resurrection”), are different sort of activities around the temples of the city.

LA TLAHUANCA

This celebration takes place on the fourth Monday of Lent on the Real Chapel. It's name comes from an ancient celebration all around the streets of downtown, where they drunk a ton; so, they used the word “Tlahuani”, which means drunk person. Actually, they just have a procession at the Real Chapel, where they get crosses painted in black, and the Stuart offers food to all the the pilgrims.

ALTEPELIHUITL

On this activity, they have Patron Images, that are decorated with fruits, zucchini, chili, cobs and bread. This is one of the most important celebrations in this region, and present in this “holy city” since ancient times on the Thursday before Jesus Christ's ascension on the Real Chapel.

FESTIVITY OF THE HOLY VIRGIN

OR FESTIVITY OF THE POOR, FARMERS AND FLOWER GROWERS

This festivity last a month approximately, and its between May and June. Merchants, flour-mill, farmers, flower growers, commerce in general. With the descent of the Holy Virgin of the Remedies, comes people from the slums that go to the “Parroquia de San Pedro” (San Peter Parish), where they stay around 30 days, and every guild and family donates a mass in thanksgiving at the end of this activities. After all this, the Virgin returns to her sanctuary.

MAJOR FESTIVITY FOR THE VIRGIN OF THE REMEDIES (TONANZIN)

In the Prehispanic times, the adoration was for Tonanzin (the Virgin) that generally was venerated by mid September by all the indigenous people who lived around the ceremonial center “Cholollan” ( Morelos, México, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Tabasco y Oaxaca) having around 20000 and 25000 people attending this event. This people were Noble, Priests, Merchants, Proletariat. Also, in the ceremonial center (now called “Plaza de la Concordia”). The barter of articles of articles of major need on that epoch (actually, they still have it every September 8 th , millenary tradition that still alive).

CHOLULA'S REGIONAL FAIR

Taking advantage of the huge affluence of people during this time of the year, on 1950, they decided to start a pilot regional fair, where they started showing all the commercial aspects, like: industry, crafts, stockbreeding, agriculture, and all the products made in this region. Actually, this expo fair takes place in the first two weeks of September in the “Recinto Xelhua” (Precinct Xelhua), that has been declared official precinct for all this activities of the fair every year.

BELL VANILOQUIO

Llorec Barbel, French musician, suggested in Oaxaca and Puebla this activity without any positive response, cause of the buildings and the way the city is made.

To the invitation from the Municipal President, Dr. Alfredo Toxqui Fernández de Lara, Llorec Barbel arrived to Cholula, and realizing of the amount of churches and even more for their bells they had on their towers, and the acoustic. He decided to bring this concert to he millenary city of Cholula in its first edition. Actually, on Saturday closest to full moon on October. From the musical creations of this century, this is one of the most innovators concerts.

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