Yucatán Gov. Joaquín Díaz Mena inaugurated the Tizimín Expo Fair 2025 (or the Feria de Reyes), one of southeastern Mexico’s most emblematic celebrations combining livestock, commercial, and cultural traditions. Running until Jan. 19, the fair features an extensive program of religious, cultural, and recreational activities alongside its traditional livestock exhibition.

During the opening ceremony at the Tizimín fairgrounds, Díaz Mena announced increased support for livestock breeding, offering 25,000 pesos for cattle breeding stock purchases and 8,000 pesos for sheep breeding improvements. The governor, accompanied by DIF honorary president Wendy Méndez Naal and mayor Carlos Adrián Quiroz Osorio, emphasized his administration’s commitment to unprecedented support for regional livestock farming.

The livestock exhibition showcases 400 rings with 294 male and 106 female registered breeding animals, primarily Brahman and Nelore breeds, from 47 ranches. This exhibition offers eastern Yucatán’s ranchers opportunities to enhance their genetic stock.

The fair’s cultural program features prominent entertainment, including free concerts by La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, Grupo Mojado, and Merenglass. The traditional Plaza de Toros hosts several bullfighting events, including performances by renowned matadors Guillermo Hermoso de Mendoza, Isaac Fonseca, and Ernesto Javier Tapia. A highlight of the early celebrations was the Coronation Vaquería on December 30, where Jesuí Huchim Gutiérrez was crowned queen of the fair.

Notable attendees at the inauguration included State Congress President Neyda Pat Dzul, Federal Deputy Rocío Barrera Puc, Senator Verónica Camino Farjat, and various regional agricultural and business leaders. The governor assured continued support for Tizimín’s development projects, particularly those advancing the Maya Renaissance in the region.

A Tale of Three Kings: The History of Yucatán’s Historic Tizimín Fair

Dating back over 400 years, the Tizimín Fair (Feria de Los Santos Reyes de Tizimín) stands as one of Mexico’s oldest continuous religious and commercial celebrations. What began as a Catholic celebration of the Epiphany in the colonial era has evolved into a major regional event combining religious devotion, livestock trade, and cultural festivities.

The fair’s origins are deeply tied to the colonial history of Tizimín, founded as San Francisco de Tizimín in 1544 by Franciscan missionaries. The celebration centers on the town’s patron saints – the Three Wise Men (Los Santos Reyes) – whose images have been housed in the San Francisco de Asís Church since the 16th century. This makes Tizimín one of the few places in the world with a historical devotion to all three Magi.

By the 19th century, the religious celebration had merged with commercial activities, particularly livestock trading. The timing of the fair – coinciding with the end of the rainy season when cattle were in prime condition – made it an ideal moment for ranchers to showcase and trade their livestock. This aspect grew particularly important during Yucatán’s henequen boom, when the hacienda economy drove increased demand for cattle.

The fair’s evolution reflects the changing nature of Yucatán’s economy and society. What started as a purely religious observance expanded to include cattle trading, then agricultural machinery exhibitions, and eventually entertainment and cultural showcases. Today’s fair combines all these elements – religious processions honor the Three Kings, while modern livestock genetics are traded, and contemporary entertainment draws thousands of visitors.

Tizimín’s transformation into “The Cattle Capital of the East” is largely attributed to the fair’s influence. The event helped establish the city as a major cattle trading center in the Peninsula, contributing to the development of the region’s livestock industry.

The fair traditionally runs from late December through Jan.19, spanning both the Epiphany (Jan. 6) and the feast day of the Cristo Negro of Tizimín (Jan.13), another important religious observance in the region. This timing reflects both its religious origins and its practical evolution as a commercial event.

Over the centuries, the fair has weathered historical challenges, including Mexico’s Revolution, various economic crises, and most recently, the global pandemic. Its continuity speaks to its significance in regional culture and commerce, making it not just a celebration but a living piece of Yucatecan heritage.