Mérida Celebrates 484 Years with Trovadores Serenade

MÉRIDA, Yuc. – When the hands of the monumental clock on the Palacio Municipal met at the top, marking the first minute of January 6, a single song broke the night’s silence.

It was not just any choir; it was hundreds of voices that, in unison, gave “Las Mañanitas” to the “Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Mérida” on its 484th anniversary.

The celebration began to take shape from 11 p.m. on January 5. The Santa Lucía park, the epicenter of Yucatecan romance, was the starting point of the emblematic street procession.

Under a full moon that seemed to want to join the festivities, a tide of mestizas and mestizos began the walk toward the heart of the city.

At the front of the contingent, dressed in an impeccable traditional terno, was Municipal President Cecilia Patrón Laviada.

By her side, more than 200 troubadours from the associations “Guty Cárdenas,” “Pastor Cervera,” “Armando Manzanero,” and “Pepe Domínguez” transformed the streets into a living auditorium.

Amid flowers, candles, and the strumming of guitars, the music of the great Yucatecan composers reminded locals and visitors why Mérida is the “most beautiful city.”

“Today, 484 years later, Ichcaanzihó continues to be a unique and distinguishable city,” the mayor expressed emotionally upon arriving at the lower level of the Palacio Municipal.

In her message, she highlighted that the Yucatecan capital is not just a collection of monuments, but a living community of more than 1.3 million inhabitants who build their future with unity and resilience.

The “Alborada” was not just a protocol event, but a reaffirmation of identity.

While the scent of flowers and the sound of trova enveloped the neighborhoods and historic buildings, Patrón Laviada emphasized that the city’s success lies in the joint work between society and government to generate equity and social justice.

“Celebrating Mérida is celebrating who we are, a united community proud of its history, where the common good is always above differences,” the councilwoman stated.

The party has just begun. After the emotional early morning celebrations, the agenda for January 6 continues with the solemn mass at the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, commemorating that day in 1542 when the city was founded on the ruins of the ancient “T’hó.”

Furthermore, the anniversary serves as the opening framework for Mérida Fest 2026. Under the motto of a city open to the world, the festival promises to flood 83 venues with 203 activities and the participation of more than 900 national and international artists.

Among the highlights is expected a tribute to the deans of the troubadours with the presentation of the “Pepe Domínguez” medal.

Today, Mérida not only celebrates its birthday, it reaffirms its place as the cultural heart of the Mexican southeast, a city that, despite its growth, does not forget to sing to its history every time the clock strikes midnight.