30 de Noviembre
Diocesan Sanctuary Margarita Concepción, Mazatán
The festivity honoring the Immaculate Virgin Margarita Concepción is one of the most meaningful religious celebrations in the Soconusco region and a historical pillar for Mazatán and its neighboring communities. With more than 410 years of tradition, it commemorates the appearance of three Marian images found by locals inside wooden crates from a shipwrecked barge on Playa Las Conchas. These three Virgins—Margarita Concepción in Mazatán, the Virgin of Candelaria in Tuxtla Chico, and the Virgin of the Assumption in Tacaná, Guatemala—form part of a religious legacy that profoundly shaped the region’s identity.
Every year, from November 30 to December 8, Mazatán celebrates its patronal fair at the Diocesan Sanctuary Margarita Concepción, combining religion, history, and cultural expressions. The festivities begin with a horseback procession starting at the site of the miraculous discovery. Thousands of families participate in masses, rosaries, prayers, and offerings of flowers and candles to thank the Virgin for favors granted, particularly in matters of health, economic hardship, and motherhood.
The celebration also includes cultural expressions such as the traditional masked dance, artistic performances, and community events that recall the historical significance of the Virgin’s appearance, recognized as the Queen of the Diocese of Tapachula. Each year, the parish priest and community invite attendees to embrace this festivity as a call to live guided by spiritual values and service to others.
The fair additionally highlights Mazatán’s natural and cultural attractions, located among coastal landscapes and lush nature just minutes from Tapachula.
Every year, from November 30 to December 8, Mazatán celebrates its patronal fair at the Diocesan Sanctuary Margarita Concepción, combining religion, history, and cultural expressions. The festivities begin with a horseback procession starting at the site of the miraculous discovery. Thousands of families participate in masses, rosaries, prayers, and offerings of flowers and candles to thank the Virgin for favors granted, particularly in matters of health, economic hardship, and motherhood.
The celebration also includes cultural expressions such as the traditional masked dance, artistic performances, and community events that recall the historical significance of the Virgin’s appearance, recognized as the Queen of the Diocese of Tapachula. Each year, the parish priest and community invite attendees to embrace this festivity as a call to live guided by spiritual values and service to others.
The fair additionally highlights Mazatán’s natural and cultural attractions, located among coastal landscapes and lush nature just minutes from Tapachula.