Oaxaca has a long, rich history
Oaxaca is a Mexican state in the southern region of the country with a capital city of the same name. It features a warm climate, diverse landscape and notable location near Central and South America. It also features a rich history, merging many different backgrounds and ethnicities to make it the unique area it is today.
Name
The name Oaxaca came about because of a tree, according to the About Oaxaca website. When the Aztecs ruled the area, they named it "Huaxyacac," which means "the place of the huaje trees." The Spanish took over ruling the area in 1521, although they had a hard time with the name. Thus Huaxyacac eventually evolved to Oaxaca, with the pronunciation of "oh-WAH-ca," switching the x sound from the Aztec "sh" to the Spanish "j."
History
The history of this Mexican state reaches back at least 7,000 years, with its original inhabitants consisting of more than a dozen different groups, according to the About Oaxaca website. Diversity reigned for centuries, although three groups became the most dominant: the Zapotecs, the Mixe and the Mixtecs. Once the 1400s and early 1500s hit, the Aztecs reigned supreme until Spanish forces came in 1521. By the following year, the Spanish officially named their settlement a royal city and soon mapped out the city and distributed its land. Oaxaca's first mayor, Don Juan Pelaez de Berrio, meted out sections of the city to Spanish families and existing inhabitants who were Spanish allies.
Current State
Oaxaca, which became a free state in 1823, remains a well-populated and popular place, especially for tourists, according to the About Oaxaca and Destination 360 websites. The Mexican state has a population of about four million, with 500,000 of them living in the capital city, also called Oaxaca. Oaxacan markets remain a huge tradition and tourist draw, selling everything from crafts to chocolate, bread to baskets, blankets to clothing and beans. Other notable attractions include the beaches, mountains, churches, parks and archeological ruins. Its town square, known as the Zocalo, is the vibrant heart of the city filled with shops, food, festivals and other events.
Food
Spices, spices and more spices dominate Oaxaca food. The most popular dining destinations, according to the Destination 360 website, are not restaurants but rather food stands and roadside cafes. Some of the most popular foods are quesadillas, tamales, tortillas, empanadas, picadas, tostadas and gorditas, all made from the Oaxacan staples of corn and meat, says the About Oaxaca website. The best known Oaxacan food item is its mole, an intricate sauce that boasts more than 30 different ingredients. One of the most unique dishes, the About Oaxaca website says, is Oaxaca's chapulines colorados, which are little grasshoppers.
Festivals
Oaxaca culture is huge on festivals, with some elaborate annual celebrations. Food, perhaps not surprisingly, is celebrated with the Food of the Gods Festival in October. Day of the Dead, honoring the dearly departed, is a huge celebration where Oaxacans say dead spirits come back to visit in early November. Summer brings the Guelaguetza folklore festival, also known as Las Fiestas del Lunes del Cerro, or Mondays of the Hill. Members from each of the seven traditional religions dance, sing, play music and swirl in native costume for a week-long celebration in July. December features la Candelarias, where folks dress up their baby Jesus statues; the Virgin of Solitude celebration; and the Night of the Radishes, where people show off their homegrown radishes. The Night of the Radishes is followed by a day of parades.
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