Celebrate Candlemas in Valladolid, Yucatán

Candlemas (Día de la Candelaria) is celebrated in Mexico on 2 February every year. If you’re going to live in Mérida, take a trip to Valladolid, Yucatán and discover this important religious and family celebration.

Moving to live in Mérida has its perks, and one is its closeness to wonderful cities and celebrations. Valladolid is one example — undoubtedly a great destination to visit.

It is almost 160 kilometres away and an excellent place for a weekend, especially in early February when Candlemas is celebrated — the city’s patron saint.

February, a month of celebration

2 February marks an important day of the year in Mexico and its towns, the start of a season leading to the spring equinox.

In Valladolid, Yucatán, the festival is no exception. In February, the city’s patron — the Virgin of Candelaria — is honoured for more than a week. Over 12 days there are celebrations across the town: processions and bullfights, funfair rides and musical shows. You won’t be bored on these days.

A good plan is to see the Candelaria church and attend one of the processions, in which the Virgin visits the various churches and schools of Valladolid.

The processions are also a chance to see different parts of this recently renovated colonial city, such as the Calzada de los Frailes.

The story of the Virgin of Candelaria

There is little information about the city’s patron. Legend tells of a slave who, returning to the city from the jungle, met a white woman carrying a baby and a candle.

The woman asked the slave to build a shelter for her son. The slave built it, then continued on his way.

When the hacienda foreman heard the story, he went to investigate and was struck by the image of the Virgin. He told the landowner, who ordered a room built for the Virgin.

It is also said that when the city was struck by the Black Death, the Virgin appeared and then the plague ceased.

The Valladolid Expo-Fair

The festivities of the Virgin of Candelaria coincide with the Valladolid Expo-Fair, one of the most important in the region. If you’re going to live in Mérida, you can’t miss it. It includes a livestock show with bulls and sheep, and stalls of crafts and cowboy textiles such as boots and hats.

There are also funfair rides, food stalls, musical shows and bullfights.

Other places to see in Valladolid:

Casa de los Venados. This museum holds the largest private collection of Mexican folk art — almost 3,000 pieces.

Convento de San Bernardino de Siena. Dating from 1560, one of the largest in the region. Inside you can see 16th-century paintings and frescoes painted more than 400 years ago.

Cenote Zací. Very close to the city centre. Part of a cave, full of water, so you can take a relaxing dip or explore around it.

Cenote Samulá. About 7 kilometres from Valladolid, a fully underground cenote.

Ek Balam archaeological ruins. Almost 28 kilometres away. Not yet fully investigated, but with tours open to the public.

What are you waiting for? Discover how Candlemas is celebrated in Valladolid, Yucatán, and enjoy its traditions!

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