THE NIGHT THAT NO ONE SLEEPS
Huamantla, a magical town in the state of Tlaxcala,
is famous for its incredible sawdust carpets. Every
August, the streets turn into colorful masterpieces
made entirely by hand and it’s called “La Noche Que
Nadie Duerme”.
RELIGIOUS ROOTS
The tradition honors the
Virgin of La Caridad, the
town’s patron saint,
some carpets are
religious, others just tell
stories from Mexican
culture.
EPHEMERAL ART
The carpets are destroyed
just hours later as a
religious procession
walks over them.
IT’S A NATIONAL TRADITION
The event includes
fireworks, music, food,
and families staying up
all night. Thousands of
visitors come to
Huamantla every year
just to see the streets
bloom in color.
STAYING AWAKE UNTIL DAWM
The name “The Night
That Nobody Sleeps”
comes from a story
published in 1968, which
described the people’s
unity in staying awake
until dawn..
HERITAGE OF THE STATE
The festival was declared
Intangible Cultural
Heritage of the State of
Tlaxcala in 2013 and was
included in the INAH
National Inventory in
2023.
CELEBRATION BEGINS
The celebration begins
on the afternoon of
August 14, when the
carpets begin to be
made, and the
procession of the Virgin
extends until dawn on
August 15.
ALL SORT OF STORIES
The tradition honors the
Virgin of La Caridad, the
town’s patron saint,
some carpets are
religious, others just tell
stories from Mexican
culture.
10 K OF ART
Around 10 kilometers are
decorated with carpets
that change every block,
reflecting the style of
each of the 900 families
who participate in this
tradition.
OLD PROCESSIONS
The processions of the
Virgin began in the 19th
century; however, in
1859 they were
suspended as a result of
social and religious
conflicts that prevailed
until the Cristero War.