22 de Abril
Barrio de Santiago, Tuxtla Chico
Every April 28 and 29, the municipality of Tuxtla Chico comes alive to celebrate the Feast of Saint Peter Martyr and Saint Mark, one of the oldest and most representative traditions in the Soconusco region, with more than 500 years of history.
This celebration reflects the enduring faith of a people who honor their patron saints, praying for good harvests, health, and community well-being. Recognized as one of Chiapas’s most significant festivities, it reaffirms Tuxtla Chico’s title as the Cultural Capital of the Soconusco.
During the festivities, traditional characters bring the town to life: the correlones, horsemen whose mounts are decorated with colorful bows and flowers blessed in the Santa María Candelaria Church; and the negritos, children and young men who paint their faces black and use rattles to help maintain order during races and processions.
These acts are not mere performances — they are acts of devotion, fulfilling promises made in gratitude for blessings received. The madrinas also play an essential role, adorning horses and presenting symbolic offerings. Highlights include horse races, a symbolic duck sacrifice representing fertility and abundance, and a reenactment of battles between Spanish colonizers, Indigenous people, and African slaves, where participants throw sweet sugar clods at each other.
The celebration concludes with a grand procession to the Santa María Candelaria Church, where the images of Saint Peter Martyr and Saint Mark are carried through the streets amid prayers and music. The festival ends with the appointment of new representatives and mayordomos who will carry on the tradition the following year.
This celebration reflects the enduring faith of a people who honor their patron saints, praying for good harvests, health, and community well-being. Recognized as one of Chiapas’s most significant festivities, it reaffirms Tuxtla Chico’s title as the Cultural Capital of the Soconusco.
During the festivities, traditional characters bring the town to life: the correlones, horsemen whose mounts are decorated with colorful bows and flowers blessed in the Santa María Candelaria Church; and the negritos, children and young men who paint their faces black and use rattles to help maintain order during races and processions.
These acts are not mere performances — they are acts of devotion, fulfilling promises made in gratitude for blessings received. The madrinas also play an essential role, adorning horses and presenting symbolic offerings. Highlights include horse races, a symbolic duck sacrifice representing fertility and abundance, and a reenactment of battles between Spanish colonizers, Indigenous people, and African slaves, where participants throw sweet sugar clods at each other.
The celebration concludes with a grand procession to the Santa María Candelaria Church, where the images of Saint Peter Martyr and Saint Mark are carried through the streets amid prayers and music. The festival ends with the appointment of new representatives and mayordomos who will carry on the tradition the following year.
