20 de Enero
Main Temple of Saint Lawrence Martyr, Zinacantán
Each year, from January 20 to 22, the Tsotsil municipality of Zinacantán celebrates one of its most important festivities: the Fair in Honor of Saint Sebastian Martyr, a tradition with more than 500 years of history that blends Catholic spirituality with Maya roots. This cultural gathering attracts thousands of local, national, and international visitors who come to witness ancestral ceremonies, music, dances, and community expressions of faith that preserve the cultural heritage of the Highlands of Chiapas.
Festivities begin on January 19 with the traditional horse race, organized for months by mayordomos, alféreces, and traditional authorities who prepare every detail as an offering of gratitude to the saint.
Throughout the celebration, the town comes alive with floral offerings, music, ceremonial dances, and the participation of community groups representing figures such as jaguars, bats, birds, and characters known as “negritos,” symbolizing different elements of social and spiritual order. Among the most significant rituals is the ceremony of the “Jaguar Tree,” where the negritos perform the ancient “squirrel game,” climbing up and down a sacred tree to symbolize the restoration of universal balance—echoing Maya stories of three days of darkness.
Solemn processions, accompanied by traditional music and prayers offered on sacred hills and in temples, form the spiritual heart of the celebration. Community members wear new garments to honor Saint Sebastian Martyr, regarded as a figure of profound hope and miraculous power. The main church is decorated with elaborate floral arrangements crafted by the community, reflecting one of Zinacantán’s most emblematic economic activities: flower cultivation.
In addition to its rituals, the fair offers activities for the entire family, including traditional dances, musical performances, amusement rides, and a craft market featuring textiles made with ancestral techniques, as well as ceramics, jewelry, and regional art. The experience is completed with local cuisine and traditional beverages such as pox.
The Fair in Honor of Saint Sebastian Martyr invites visitors to experience the spiritual and cultural richness of Zinacantán, a living testimony to Tsotsil identity that continues to thrive year after year.
Festivities begin on January 19 with the traditional horse race, organized for months by mayordomos, alféreces, and traditional authorities who prepare every detail as an offering of gratitude to the saint.
Throughout the celebration, the town comes alive with floral offerings, music, ceremonial dances, and the participation of community groups representing figures such as jaguars, bats, birds, and characters known as “negritos,” symbolizing different elements of social and spiritual order. Among the most significant rituals is the ceremony of the “Jaguar Tree,” where the negritos perform the ancient “squirrel game,” climbing up and down a sacred tree to symbolize the restoration of universal balance—echoing Maya stories of three days of darkness.
Solemn processions, accompanied by traditional music and prayers offered on sacred hills and in temples, form the spiritual heart of the celebration. Community members wear new garments to honor Saint Sebastian Martyr, regarded as a figure of profound hope and miraculous power. The main church is decorated with elaborate floral arrangements crafted by the community, reflecting one of Zinacantán’s most emblematic economic activities: flower cultivation.
In addition to its rituals, the fair offers activities for the entire family, including traditional dances, musical performances, amusement rides, and a craft market featuring textiles made with ancestral techniques, as well as ceramics, jewelry, and regional art. The experience is completed with local cuisine and traditional beverages such as pox.
The Fair in Honor of Saint Sebastian Martyr invites visitors to experience the spiritual and cultural richness of Zinacantán, a living testimony to Tsotsil identity that continues to thrive year after year.