FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS

Tlaxcala celebrates three annual festivities that keep the whole city bustling with excitement. The first one is the Tlaxcala Carnival, which takes place on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. During this celebration, the city offers local dance shows by the huehes, who wear embroidered clothes, masks and feathered hats. Another big fiesta is the procession of the Virgin of Ocotlan, which is carried to various churches on the third Monday of May. The Fiesta de Todos los Santos, which takes place from Oct. 28 ? Nov.2, honors the deceased with prayers, offerings at altars, food left for departed loved ones, and thousands of flowers to adorn the processions.  Finally, the Tlaxcala Fair is held in October and November, which has crafts, livestock, tourism and food exhibits, as well as a running of the bulls and cock fights.