Xalostoc: Churches, Carnival and Landscape

Xalostoc brings together church history and lively festival traditions with a landscape on the slopes of the La Malinche volcano. Eighteenth-century churches, Carnival, mariachi music and oak forest give a trip a variety of focal points. Local crafts and historic haciendas are also part of the municipality’s character. When choosing your vacation rental, it may therefore be important to consider whether you are most interested in festivals, history, crafts or landscape.

Churches and historic construction periods

The Templo de San Damián y San Cosme in Xaloztoc dates from the 18th century. The colonial-era church history also includes San Cosme Xaloztoc and San Pedro Tlacotepec: both were visita churches belonging to the monastery of Huamantla. The Templo San Pedro in San Cosme Xaloztoc is also listed in the INAH monument register. The municipality thus offers both a specific construction period and a historic connection to a monastery.

The haciendas add another perspective on the area’s older architecture. Hacienda de Tochac and Hacienda La Concepción were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Together with the 18th-century Templo, they provide different historical points of interest, although not all the buildings mentioned belong to the same period.

Festival traditions: procession, carpet and mariachi

The festival in honor of San Cosme and San Damián combines religious tradition with music and festivities. As part of the festival tradition, a procession passes through the main streets at 1 a.m. on September 26; local organizers may adjust the schedule. During the festival, the community of Xaloztoc begins making a carpet of sawdust and flowers in the atrium between 5 and 6 a.m. The early start and the materials used make this custom a distinctive feature of the celebration.

The festival is called “Feria Regional del Mariachi.” It features performances by mariachi musicians from Xaloztoc as well as mariachi groups from Mexico and abroad; the specific lineup may vary from one edition to another. In the center of the festival, stalls sell antojitos, sweets, fruit and traditional festival bread. Vendors vary. If you plan to time your trip around a festival, check the local schedule for specific dates.

Carnival and crafts in the municipality

Carnival is celebrated in Xaloztoc from Sunday to Tuesday. Until Easter Sunday, a remate is also held every Sunday in every neighborhood of the municipality. During the celebrations, four of the municipality’s most prominent carnival groups parade through town between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. More than 1,000 Huehues dancers may gather at the Carnival remates. The details about the dates, parades and remates give Carnival its own rhythm within the festival traditions.

Local crafts include carved walking sticks and carnival masks. The municipality of Xaloztoc is also known for making fireworks and floral arrangements. These traditions add a craft perspective to the public festivities. Those interested in local culture will find other subjects that shape the municipality’s character alongside processions, dance and music.

Oak forest on the slopes of La Malinche

A large part of the municipality of Xaloztoc lies on the slopes of the La Malinche volcano, where there is oak forest. This landscape offers a change of focus from the festival and historical themes. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are more interested in festival traditions and their timing, the churches and haciendas, or the landscape. Choosing a focus can help you find suitable travel dates and a vacation rental for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Santa María Ixtulco, Tlaxcala, Chiautempan, Totolac, Huamantla, La Libertad, Apizaco, Terrenate.

Return to the main travel overview: Tlaxcala.