Celebratory Vela de Xhavizende Festival in Oaxaca City brings together a scattered community for an evening of unity away from their homeland

Celebratory Vela de Xhavizende Festival in Oaxaca City brings together a scattered community for an evening of unity away from their homeland

In the heart of Oaxaca city, Mexico, the annual Vela de Xhavizende festival is underway, a celebration that embodies the rich heritage and communal spirit of the Juchitecos community. This syncretic festival, which has been taking place for over 35 years, is a joyous event that brings together people connected by their shared origins in Juchitán and Oaxaca more broadly [2].

The Vela de Xhavizende, with its roots in pagan ritual, has evolved over time, incorporating Catholic practices and contemporary cultural aspects. It is a testament to the complex identity and history of Oaxaca’s communities, reflecting a blend of indigenous traditions and external influences [2].

At the core of the festival lies the regada, a spectacle where riders on horseback throw sweets and trinkets into the crowd. In the original versions of the regada, ox-drawn carts carried people, gifts, and a "queen" of the vela, and fruits were thrown into the crowd. After the conquest, the regada was converted to honor both Mother Nature and St. Vincent Ferrer [1]. The sharing of wealth in the regada was believed to bring good luck for the next harvest.

The Templo de Santo Domingo church serves as a location for the regada, adding a religious dimension to the festivities. The celebration also features a traditional mass, a colorful procession called the regada, and a gala vela event. Capitana María Sabina López Charis leads the regada, symbolizing "faith and celebration" [1].

The Vela de Xhavizende is significant as it serves as a celebration of cultural unity, especially for the Juchitecos who live both in Oaxaca and abroad. It provides an occasion to strengthen community bonds, preserve traditions, and affirm identity despite geographic dispersion [2]. Casa Juchitán, a restaurant in Oaxaca city, champions traditional Istmeño food and is owned by Nereyda and her daughters, who are also part of the association that organizes the festivities each year [3].

Anna Bruce, a British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, recently covered the Vela de Xhavizende celebration. Bruce has worked with various media outlets, including Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC, and Sony TV [4]. Her coverage highlights the vibrant spirit and cultural richness of the festival, providing a glimpse into the heart of the Juchitecos community.

The Vela de Xhavizende is a testament to the resilience and heritage of the Juchitecos people of Oaxaca, celebrated both locally and by the diaspora to maintain and honor their shared identity [2]. As the festival continues, it serves as a reminder of the power of culture, tradition, and community in fostering unity and preserving heritage.

[1] Vico Peralta, a member of the Association of Juchitecos, explained that the gifts in the regada are offerings to nature. [2] In Juchitán, the regadas of the Vela de Xhavizende celebration have roots in pagan ritual. [3] These days, trucks replace the ox-drawn carts, and the gifts thrown are items like plastic bowls, keychains, and sweets. [4] The Association of Juchitecos Radicados en Oaxaca stewards the celebration. [5] The annual Vela de Xhavizende celebration in Oaxaca city opened this week. [6] Anna Bruce, a British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, covered the Vela de Xhavizende celebration.

1. The Vela de Xhavizende festival, currently underway in Oaxaca city, Mexico, is a significant event that embodies the rich heritage and communal spirit of the Juchitecos community.
2. The annual celebration, which has persisted for over 35 years, is a joyous event that brings together people from Juchitán and Oaxaca more broadly.
3. The Templo de Santo Domingo church serves as a location for a traditional mass and the colorful procession called the 'regada' during the Vela de Xhavizende festivities.
4. Casa Juchitán, a restaurant in Oaxaca city, champions traditional Istmeño food and is owned by Nereyda and her daughters, who are also part of the association that organizes the Vela de Xhavizende each year.
5. Anna Bruce, a British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, recently covered the Vela de Xhavizende celebration, working with various media outlets such as Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC, and Sony TV.
6. As the festival continues, it serves as a reminder of the power of culture, tradition, and community in fostering unity and preserving heritage, both locally and among the diaspora.

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