Huamantla Fair «The night that no one sleeps»

During the whole month of August masses and rosaries are held, from the first days of August the fair festivities begin with the elaboration of carpets in the atrium of the Basilica, and are announced with firecrackers.

This fair has become one of the main fairs in Tlaxcala due to the uniqueness of its festivities. The one that has gained an important relevance is “La Noche que Nadie Duerme”, a festivity that takes place on August 14 where sawdust, sand, flowers and vegetables are made along the streets to give way to the procession of the Virgin of Charity, an image venerated since its arrival to the city of Huamantleca.

Its name derives from an activity that in the hermitage where it was located, charity was given to the poor, to help them in their needs, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It was also known as “Virgen de las Maravillas” (Virgin of the Wonders), since around her hermitage there was an abundance of marvel flowers, small purple wild flowers that were used to make the first carpet of the month.

In 2022 this festivity broke the Guinness record with the longest sawdust carpet in the world, taking the throne away from Guatemala.

This festivity is complemented by one of the most beautiful and traditional bullfights in Mexico, the “Corrida de las Luces”, which takes place every year in the city of Huamantla, during the fair, in commemoration of the celebrations of the Virgin of Charity. When the doors of the plaza open, and as people enter, they are given a candle. To the sound of the band and with all the candles lit, a few minutes before eight o’clock at night, the fans are
delighted with the sound of the double steps prior to the celebration. The image of the virgin, accompanied by the Bishop of Tlaxcala, priests, bullfighters and bullfighting teams begin the paseíllo while a group of the faithful make them fence and, between the smell of flowers and incense from the incense burners, the night becomes mystical and solemn. This paseíllo takes place with the plaza illuminated only by the candles held by the fans in their hands, for this reason it is known as the “Corrida de las Luces” (Bullfight of the Lights).

The following Saturday is the traditional Huamantlada, a tradition of more than 50 years that consists of releasing several fighting bulls to be fought by those brave enough to do their best in the main streets of Huamantla.