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Music, colors, smells, and flavors make up the cultural mosaic of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. According to tradition, from October 31st to November 2nd, a series of events commemorate the transitory return of our deceased. We present five options to revive this tradition and pay tribute to our departed beloved.
1. Parades of catrinas
The imagination around death has echoed in rich artistic manifestations. La Catrina is irrefutable proof. It was the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera who created it. He took inspiration from La Calavera Garbancera. The art of the illustrator, engraver, and cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada. Currently, Catrina is one of the central figures in the parades in honor of the Day of the Dead.
Where:
Relive the Catrina Parade in San Miguel de Allende on November 1st at 8:00 p.m. You can go as a spectator or become a Catrín or Catrina since they reward the best costumes. Another option is the Festival de las Calaveras de Aguascalientes that takes place on the last days of October and November 1st. There floats, living altars, concerts, and much more await you.
2. Fiction turned into reality
The Day of the Dead has been a source of inspiration for movies. At the same time, reality has inspired it back. Such was the case of Specter (2015), with the scenes of James Bond touring the Historic Center of Mexico City among skulls. Fiction that a year later became the Mega Day of the Dead Parade. On the other hand, the emotional film Coco (2017) inspired the creation of a route through Michoacán that recalls many of its scenes.
Where:
To remember memorable scenes of fiction made a reality, you can go to the Mega Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City, where alebrijes, skulls, catrinas, and other mystical beings will wander on October 31st, at Paseo de la Reforma. Or follow the Coco tourist route in Michoacán, formed by places like Janitzio, Pátzcuaro, and Santa Fe de la Laguna. We recommend that you confirm access to these on the official sites of their municipalities. Because of the pandemic, many will be exclusive to locals.
3. Death tastes sweet
The Catholic celebration on the first day of November, Todos Santos, included the display of «relics» – such as bones of Saints, to which miraculous powers were attributed. People baked sweets to imitate said relics under the Arabic name alfeñiques; in Spain and colonial Mexico, The bread of the dead was another way to reproduce them.
Where:
Visit La Feria del Alfeñique de Toluca, which dates back to 1630, where figures made with sugar began to be available from mid-October to early November. You will find delicacies in the most diverse forms. Or, if you love the Pan de Muerto, you cannot miss Mitla, where the bakers are authentic artists who decorate the bread of the dead with filigree and delicate details.
4. Visit pantheons
To facilitate the return of souls to earth, some indigenous communities spread marigold flower petals and candles on the way from their homes to cemeteries. The tombs are cleaned and decorated with offerings and flowers. Music cannot be absent during the evening soiree. We recommend that you confirm access to these on the official sites of their municipalities. Because of the pandemic, many will be exclusive to locals.
Where:
Among the memorable sites of international fame stand the Nahua village of Mixquic in the State of Mexico, and the Zapotec town of Xoxocotlán, in Oaxaca.
5. Offerings taken to another level
Offerings are lovely prepared with the deceased’s favorite delicacies. Among the western elements, flowers, alfeñique sweets, pieces of bread and candles stand out; of the natives, the marigold flower, the fruits, the copal, and the arrangement by levels –represent the division of heaven, earth, and the underworld–. The photographs that remember loved ones, the confetti, and the sugar or chocolate skulls are a must.
Where:
A classic is the Megaofrenda de la UNAM, in Mexico City. Since its first installation in 1997 at the Faculty of Medicine, it has had diverse themes and venues, including Universum, the Olympic Stadium, or the iconic Plaza de Santo Domingo. Another emblematic offering is that of Hanal Pixán in the Yucatan peninsula. Near the graves of the relatives, an offering with typical dishes is placed, among them the mucbipollo, a delicious giant tamale wrapped in banana leaves and baked underground.
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Unsplash @ MiguelGonzalez.