{"id":51855,"date":"2011-01-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-01-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royalresorts.com\/blog\/happy-birthday-merida\/"},"modified":"2021-11-29T20:25:13","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T20:25:13","slug":"happy-birthday-merida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.royalresorts.com\/blog\/cancun\/happy-birthday-merida\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Birthday Merida"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>On <strong>January 6<\/strong>, the gracious capital of the state of <strong>Yucatan<\/strong> is <strong>469 years old!<\/strong> It is celebrating the anniversary of its foundation by Spanish conquistador <strong>Francisco de Montejo y Le\u00f3n<\/strong> the Younger in <strong>1542<\/strong> amidst the deserted ruins of a much earlier Mayan city called <strong>T\u2019Ho<\/strong>. The festivities will last the whole month with the<strong> Merida City Festival, January 5 \u2013 30.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The fun started on January 5 with the <strong><em>Alborada<\/em><\/strong>, a strolling serenade from <strong>Santa Lucia Park<\/strong> to City Hall at 11 p.m. in which hundreds of musicians performed songs telling of their love for the city. At midnight the church bells were tolled and the crowds joined in singing the traditional Mexican birthday song <em>Las Ma\u00f1anitas<\/em>. On the morning of January 6, local people gather before the altar in <strong>San Idelfonso Cathedral<\/strong>, one of the oldest in the Americas, to offer their prayers for their city.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The City Festival features more than 200 events<\/strong> ranging from <strong>concerts, theater and dance performances to art exhibitions, cinema and literary workshops, in addition to the traditional weekly musical recitals and folk ballet events staged in the city\u2019s parks and squares<\/strong>. This year,<strong> it has attracted 1,000 performers from the Yucatan<\/strong>, different parts of Mexico and from guest country, Colombia. Native son and world-famous singer-songwriter <strong>Armando Manzanero<\/strong> will be giving the inaugural concert on January 6. Other highlights include an exhibition at the City Museum titled Merida, Yesterday and Today, showcasing the work of Manuel Lizama, art by Arnaldo Coen at the Centro Cultural Olimpo and two national award ceremonies for short stories (Beatriz Espejo) and poetry (Poes\u00eda M\u00e9rida 2011) respectively.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The festival program is available on <a title=\"festival merida\" href=\"http:\/\/www.merida.gob.mx\/festival\/programas.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.merida.gob.mx\/festival\/programas.html<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Whatever the Season, Merida <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With historic monuments ranging from the impressive 16<sup>th<\/sup> century Cathedral and a collection of colonial churches and convents to 19<sup>th<\/sup> century civic buildings and the palatial residences of the henequen barons along <strong>Paseo Montejo<\/strong>, fascinating museums, art galleries and craft centers and a thriving cultural scene there\u2019s always something to see and do in Merida, whatever the season. Be sure to take in some of the evening concerts and folk dance performances staged throughout the year, here\u2019s a listing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Weekly Events in Merida<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Saturday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Fiesta Mexicana<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Live music and folk dances from Yucatan and other Mexican states, food and craft stalls.<\/p>\n<p>8 p.m., Calle 47 and Paseo Montejo<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coraz\u00f3n de Merida<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Music, dance and open-air dining along Calle 60, the street leading north from the main square where the Church of the Third Order, Peon Contreras Theater, the University of the Yucatan and other landmarks are located.<\/p>\n<p>From 9 p.m. Calle 60<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>M\u00e9rida en Domingo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The main square and surrounding streets are closed to traffic for this popular family gala featuring live music and dance performances, trio serenades, art exhibitions, handicraft and food stands.<\/p>\n<p>9 a.m. \u2013 9 p.m., main square and Calle 60. There is also a concert at the MACAY Museum next to the Cathedral from 12 to 1 p.m., a trio serenade at Pasaje Picheta at 8 p.m. and ask about midday concerts of classical music at Peon Contreras Theater during the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biciruta<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The streets of the historic heart of Merida, Paseo Montejo and those in Barrio San Juan and to Ermita de Santa Isabel are closed during the morning along this five-kilometer bicycle route which will take you past some of the city\u2019s most important monuments.<\/p>\n<p>8 a.m. \u2013 12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Art on Sundays<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Local and foreign artists display and sell their work on Merida\u2019s famous tree-lined boulevard.<\/p>\n<p>9 a.m.\u00a0 Paseo Montejo<\/p>\n<p><strong>Monday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Vaqueria<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>9 p.m. in front of City Hall in the main square.<\/p>\n<p>Colorful traditional dances from the Yucatan, including those forming a part in village fiestas called vaquerias.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tuesday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Big Band Concert<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From 8:30 p.m., Santiago Park, Calle 59 &amp; 72<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Live music at the Olimpo Cultural Center.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>9 p.m., main square<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thursday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Santa Lucia Serenade<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Concerts, traditional dances and poetry readings<\/p>\n<p>9 p.m. Santa Luc\u00eda Park<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coraz\u00f3n de Merida<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Music and open-air dining along Calle 60, the street leading north from the main square where the Church of the Third Order, Peon Contreras Theater, the University of the Yucatan and other landmarks are located.<\/p>\n<p>From 9 p.m. Calle 60<\/p>\n<p><strong>Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Serenades in the University of Yucatan courtyard.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>9 p.m., Calle 60 &amp; 57<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trio serenades in the main square<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>9 p.m. Pasaje Picheta<\/p>\n<p><strong>Noches de Leyenda<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A two-hour walking tour and theatrical experience in one, scenes from Merida\u2019s history are reenacted in nine different settings. At this time performances are in Spanish.<\/p>\n<p>8:30 p.m., tickets available in Santa Lucia Park.<\/p>\n<p>A repeat performance is staged on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coraz\u00f3n de Merida<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Calle 60, the street leading north from the main square is closed to traffic and local restaurants set up tables al fresco in the squares and outside Peon Contreras Theater for an evening of dining under the stars. There\u2019s live music at different points along the route with everything from trios and jazz to salsa on the repertoire.<\/p>\n<p>From 9 p.m. Calle 60<\/p>\n<p>Events are subject to change; when in Merida ask for the current program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Songs from the Heart, la Trova Yucateca<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Wander through the streets of M\u00e9rida on any given night and you\u2019ll discover how important music is to area inhabitants, the serenades performed by guitar-strumming trios playing in the squares and serenading diners at local restaurants are the very essence of <em>trova<\/em>, the music of the Yucat\u00e1n.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula is the gateway to Mexico<\/strong> and its ports have always been the stepping off point for musical influences, all of which were absorbed and transformed by local performers. Musicians from Colombia, Cuba and Central America contributed their own rhythms and styles and the end result was trova.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trova<\/strong> is actually a blend of three musical genres: the bolero from Cuba and the bambuco and claves from Colombia, and its romantic lilting melodies owe a great deal to the Maya, the Spaniards and to Africa via Cuba and Colombia. The ballads are tender and somewhat melancholy, pure poetry set to music.<\/p>\n<p>The most famous composers and performers of <strong><em>trova yucateca<\/em><\/strong> are the legendary <strong>Guty C\u00e1rdenas, Armando Manzanero and Jos\u00e9 Antonio M\u00e9ndez<\/strong>, whose repertoires include songs such as <strong>\u201cSomos novios\u201d <\/strong>(\u201cWe are lovers\u201d), <strong>\u201cNunca\u201d <\/strong>(\u201cNever\u201d), <strong>\u201cContigo aprendi\u201d<\/strong> ( \u201cI learned with you\u201d) and <strong>\u201cTres regalos\u201d<\/strong> (\u201cThree gifts\u201d), all of which are now classics.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t miss these strolling trio musicians in Santa Luc\u00eda square every Thursday at 8 p.m. If you are interested in learning more about trova music, why not visit the museum dedicated to the history of these romantic ballads and local composers, <strong>Museo de la Cancion Yucateca<\/strong>, Calle 57 No. 464-A x 48. Open: Tuesday \u2013 Friday, 9 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. \u2013 3 p.m.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trips to Merida<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Thomas More Travel | viajes thomas more\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/fDf2kN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Thomas More Travel<\/strong><\/a> offers <a title=\"merida tours | merida trips | daytrips merida\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/eI4I31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>day trips and overnight stays to Merida<\/strong><\/a>. If you plan to rent a car and make your own way there, <strong>Merida is 320 km\/200 miles from Cancun <\/strong>and the drive takes <strong>around three and a half hours by car<\/strong> on the toll road and four hours or more depending on traffic on Highway 180. <strong>Flights also are available from Cancun.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[46,62,123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cancun","category-history","category-yucatan"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>Happy Birthday Merida - 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