The Day of the Dead in Mexico is a far cry from what we know in the rest of the world. No sadness in mourning, nor silence in contemplation. The opposite. On the Day of the DeadEl Dia de los muertos“, the country comes alive with a festive and colorful atmosphere worthy of a carnival. Classified by UNESCO as the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2003, this tradition was significantly expanded in 2017 through an animated film. coconutDisney and Pixar studios.
Origins
“The Day of the Dead derives from a mixture of pre-Hispanic religious rituals, Christian holidays brought by the Spanish, and the more recent American influence of Halloween.summarizes Elise Le Monnier, co-founder of Mexikoo, an ecotourism travel agency based in Mexico City. In pre-Columbian times, death was seen as the beginning of a journey Miktlan (posthumous). He was feared by the Spanish and Europeans, unlike the indigenous Mesoamerican populations (Aztecs, Mayans, etc.), who laughed at him and saw in death the beginning of a new life.
The tradition
Day of the Dead takes place on November 2nd, but the celebrations actually last longer. The night from October 31 to November 1 is dedicated to dead children, and the day of November 2 to adults. On this occasion, Mexicans clean the graves and set up altars in their homes, on which they place abundant offerings of sugar skulls (calaveras), pains or fur (brioche with orange blossom), tequila, dishes and things appreciated by the deceased… There are also colorful tsempasucil flowers (also called “flowers of the dead”) in yellow or orange, all enhanced with candles and incense. Families usually organize a feast around the grave of their loved one, singing and dancing.
The character
Makeup stands are busy on the streets. Mexicans have their faces painted with skulls (calaveras) or their faces adopt its features Katrina, a character that artist and illustrator Guadalupe Posada initially envisioned as a caricature of the wealthy social classes. La Catrina really looks like an old lady of high society, dressed in an elegant colorful dress and a big hat, which symbolizes opulence and ambition. This figure became a symbol of death when the muralist Diego Riviera depicted it as a skeleton in his mural. Sueño de una late Sunday at Alameda Central (“A Sunday Afternoon Dream in Downtown Alameda”).
Places:
If the Day of the Dead is celebrated everywhere in Mexico, it is not the same depending on the region. ItOaxacaMexico’s capital of gastronomy and mecca of craftsmanship is undoubtedly the most associated with tradition. Villagers in the Yucatan region Pomuch perpetuate the ancestral ritual by thoroughly washing the bones of their dead as a sign of purification before they join the other world.
Another place to enjoy the festivities is the capital Mexico Citywhere parades have been held since 2016.”The parade is not part of the tradition. This after the success of the James Bond movie Spectrum the opening scene of which takes place during a procession in Mexico City, which the municipality has decided to reproduce a similar event every year– explains Elise Le Monnier. The capital is also an ideal starting point for accessing traditional villages on the outskirts such as Mixquicwhich inspired one of the villages in the animated film coconutWhere? Xochimilcowhere a spectacular night vigil is held.
During the Day of the Dead, many Mexicans travel across the country to join their families. Public transport is therefore very busy and hotels fill up quickly. Advice: “To take advantage of the widest possible choice of accommodation, it is best to book them a year in advance, so now for a trip scheduled for October-November 2023.advises Élise Le Monier.
VIDEO – Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead
Source: Le Figaro
