• OUTBREAK: The coronavirus emergency has forced the cancellation of the May-long celebration known as the Fiesta de las Velas in the southern Mexican city of Juchitán, unleashing a domino effect in the local economy affecting indigenous artisans, local musicians and a legion of food preparation workers.
• TRADITION: A world-known tradition dating back to 1857, the Fiesta de las Velas (or Festival of the Candles), a festival in honor of patron saint Saint Vincent Ferrer, has rarely been canceled in Juchitán (pop. 98,000) the most important city in the Isthmus region of Oaxaca state.
• SERVICE: “Those of us who devote our lives to offering services have been hit very hard. We are badly beaten, there is nowhere to turn, there are no large companies, there are no maquiladoras for employment”, said Felina Santiago, an internationally renowned local designer of traditional clothing.
• IMPACT: Organized in Juchitán’s neighborhoods throughout May, a single “vela” is normally a three-day festival that includes a night of vigil, a parade, a banquet, and an after-party. According to Oaxacan authorities, the Fiesta de las Velas brings 50,000 people and at least US $826,000 to Juchitán yearly.
