Carnival

Celebrated in the three days leading up to Ash Wednesday, at the start of Lent. The Chinelo dance is the main attraction. The Chinelo is a figure rooted in Tlayacapan. In 1879, a group of young men took to the streets of Tlayacapan jumping and dancing to the tune of old buckets and whistles. They covered their faces with a piece of cloth and dressed in old, torn clothes. They were referred to as huehuenches, which, in Nahuatl means “old men wearing worn clothes.” Three days prior to Ash Wednesday, the Spanish would dance, sing, and drink in celebration while having good time. “Indians” weren’t invited. So, in order to have their own celebration, the indigenous population organized a group that would make its way through the town streets in disguise. They would shout and dance, making fun of the Spanish.

When: March