08 de Agosto
Parish of Saint Roch and Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
The Festivity in Honor of Saint Roch and Saint Bartholomew the Apostle is celebrated each year in the historic Barrio de San Roque, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tuxtla Gutiérrez and renowned for proudly preserving its traditions. For more than two weeks, this festival brings together residents and visitors through a program that includes religious, cultural, and culinary activities, transforming the neighborhood into a vibrant gathering space.
The festivities begin with the traditional fair announcement, a procession starting from one of the parish chapels that marks the start of the celebration. Every day at ten in the morning, pozol — a traditional Chiapas beverage — is offered free of charge. The schedule includes masses, a kermés in the atrium, and a variety of activities such as traditional cooking workshops—where recipes like hoja de milpa tamales, cochito tuxtleco, and bolita con chipilín are taught—artistic performances, contests, live music, and the coronation of the fair queens. The processions and pilgrimages, accompanied by offerings such as the traditional somés made of rods covered with regional foliage and adorned with bread, fruit, flowers, and sweets, reflect the deep devotion to the patron saints and bring together parishioners from multiple communities.
The central moments of the religious calendar are the Solemn Mass in honor of Saint Roch and the feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, occasions that invite the community to share faith and tradition. Authorities and organizers encourage residents and tourists alike to take part in this celebration, which honors local history and keeps alive the traditions that shape the identity of the capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
The festivities begin with the traditional fair announcement, a procession starting from one of the parish chapels that marks the start of the celebration. Every day at ten in the morning, pozol — a traditional Chiapas beverage — is offered free of charge. The schedule includes masses, a kermés in the atrium, and a variety of activities such as traditional cooking workshops—where recipes like hoja de milpa tamales, cochito tuxtleco, and bolita con chipilín are taught—artistic performances, contests, live music, and the coronation of the fair queens. The processions and pilgrimages, accompanied by offerings such as the traditional somés made of rods covered with regional foliage and adorned with bread, fruit, flowers, and sweets, reflect the deep devotion to the patron saints and bring together parishioners from multiple communities.
The central moments of the religious calendar are the Solemn Mass in honor of Saint Roch and the feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, occasions that invite the community to share faith and tradition. Authorities and organizers encourage residents and tourists alike to take part in this celebration, which honors local history and keeps alive the traditions that shape the identity of the capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
