Discover Semana Santa en Oaxaca
- chtopete
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
A Cultural and Language Experience for Spanish Students
Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Oaxaca is one of the most powerful and enriching times to experience Mexican culture. For Spanish language learners, it offers an incredible opportunity to connect language with lived traditions, deepen vocabulary, and participate in centuries-old rituals that shape daily life in Oaxaca.
La Cuaresma: A Culinary and Cultural Journey
The season of Cuaresma (Lent) begins on Miércoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday) and lasts for 40 days leading up to Holy Thursday. During this time, especially on Fridays and throughout Semana Santa, many people in Oaxaca refrain from eating meat. Instead, they turn to traditional dishes made with fish, vegetables, and local ingredients. This shift in diet has inspired a unique Oaxacan culinary tradition rich in symbolism and flavor.
At Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, our Semana Santa cooking workshop dives into these special recipes. Students improve their Spanish vocabulary for food and cooking and get hands-on experience preparing dishes like tortitas de camarón, nopal salad, and mole de vigilia. Cooking together in Spanish creates a memorable and immersive learning environment.
Key Vocabulary
Cuaresma – Lent
Miércoles de Ceniza – Ash Wednesday
vigilia – the practice of avoiding meat
pescado – fish
platillo típico – traditional dish
Cultural Highlights of Semana Santa in Oaxaca
El Viernes de Dolores and the Altar de Dolores during Semana Santa en Oaxaca.
The Friday before Palm Sunday is El Viernes de Dolores, dedicated to La Virgen de Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows). Families, churches, and public spaces set up altares de Dolores—beautiful and symbolic altars decorated with purple cloth, bitter oranges, wheatgrass, flowers, mirrors, and 7 cups with water of 7 colors representing each of the 7 sorrows of the Virgen. These altars reflect pain and hope and are often seen as a spiritual counterpart to the ofrenda or altar de muertos during Día de los Muertos.
This is an excellent opportunity for Spanish learners to explore religious vocabulary and poetic expressions around emotion, symbolism, and tradition.
Key vocabulary:
Altar de Dolores – altar for Our Lady of Sorrows
la Virgen de Dolores – Our Lady of Sorrows
reflejo – reflection
tristeza – sorrow
Estandartes y Relicarios
During Semana Santa, churches and communities display intricate estandartes (banners) and relicarios (reliquaries) from centuries past. These are visual storytelling tools rich with religious iconography, passed down through generations.
Walking through these exhibits is like stepping into a living museum—perfect for developing your descriptive Spanish and expanding vocabulary related to art, religion, and history.
Key vocabulary:
estandarte – banner
relicario – reliquary
procesión – procession
símbolo – symbol
Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday)
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. In Oaxaca, the streets come alive with markets selling woven palm crosses and figures. Attending a Palm Sunday mass or procession is a great way to experience the community's faith and practice your Spanish listening and comprehension in an authentic setting.
Key vocabulary:
palma – palm
cruz – cross
bendecir – to bless
Viernes Santo and the Procesión del Silencio
Viernes Santo (Good Friday) is perhaps the most solemn day of the week. After dark, the Procesión del Silencio moves silently through the streets of Oaxaca City. Participants wear black robes and hoods; the only sounds are drums and the shuffling of feet. The procession is deeply moving, offering a unique reflection and cultural observation setting.
Key vocabulary:
silencio – silence
luto – mourning
devoción – devotion
A Fun Cultural Connection: Chía Pets and Ancient Traditions
Did you know that the popular Chía Pet connects to ancient Mesoamerican traditions? People sprout semillas de chía (chia seeds) in Mexico on clay figurines or pots. It must be precisely on Samaritan Friday, as it takes two weeks for the chia to germinate and the animals to be embellished with the chia plant, as part of Los Altares de Dolores. These sprouts symbolize new life and hope. So next time you see a Chía Pet, you’re looking at a tradition with roots far more profound than pop culture.
Key vocabulary:
semilla – seed
brotes – sprouts
esperanza – hope
Semana Santa in Oaxaca is not only a religious event—it’s a sensory, linguistic, and emotional journey. At Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, we celebrate this season in a special way, beginning with El Viernes de la Samaritana, a beloved local tradition where people offer refreshing drinks made from fruits and flowers to celebrate kindness and hospitality.
During two immersive weeks, ICO offers the Semana Santa Cultural Workshop—a hands-on experience where you’ll explore the rich cultural expressions of Holy Week. You’ll set up an Altar de Dolores and gain firsthand insight into the traditions that make this season so meaningful in Oaxaca. Combined with language classes and cultural outings, it’s an unforgettable way to improve your Spanish while living the culture.
Learn Spanish where tradition lives. To learn more about our Spanish programs and cultural workshops, visit www.icomexico.com. ¡Te esperamos en Oaxaca!
Comments