Visit Area Festivals to Celebrate Dia de Muertos
Tara A. Spears
The Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) is one of the greatest festivities in Mexico integral to the culture. It’s a time in which the dead are venerated, the life they had is celebrated and acts of family unity are carried out, including visits to the cemeteries in different towns. A neighbor remarked, “It is important that the children come, so that they grow up with this tradition of visiting their grandmothers.”
This practice is a fusion of pre-Hispanic religious rites and Catholic feasts that brings together two ideologies that have endured for centuries. In 2008, UNESCO proclaimed Day of the Dead an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity because the practice is that important to society.
Throughout Mexico the upcoming three-day festival is observed October 31, November 1 and 2 each year. This celebration of the loved departed becomes a graveside feast dominated by food, flowers of yellow (the color of death for Hispanic cultures), such as marigolds, clemoles, oranges, and the departed’s favorite foods and drinks besides a special traditional bread made for the occasion. The altars are a vignette of the deceased’s interests and life: often full of detail and including music. The extended family gathers to share a meal and tell antidotes about the person.
In the Jaltemba Bay area, there are several interesting activities honoring the occasion. First, visit one of the two La Penita cemeteries. The original, oldest cemetery, is on the ocean and has tombs exposed due to changing sea level. The current use cemetery, Pantheon Municipal, is on highway 200 north of the La Penita main Avenida. Both are assessible by walking, taxi or car.
There is so much activity at the cemeteries that in addition to traffic control their will be extended hours of operation on 31 October, 1 &2 November. Customarily the families first clean the gravesite then decorate. Typical decorations include wreaths of artificial or natural flowers plus favorite items of the departed. There is frequently vendors of food, sweets, crafts and other products in the area of the pantheons. Many of the mourners accompany the visits with music. Many families even eat around the graves, turning this day into a family reunion. José Luis Curiel Monteagudo, in his book “Sugary Cares, Sweets and Breads” says: “The eating of the dead is for the Mexican a real pleasure. The phenomenon is treated with respect and irony; by eating death, one is challenging it.”It is so beautiful to walk around and get to know the departed through the displays! Wonderful photo opportunity. After dark the decorated tombs are even more amazing by candlelight.
Secondly, there are parades about 6 pm on the 31st October in La Penita, Las Varas and San Blas. Unlike the NOTB Halloween costumes, the decorated participants are not meant to be frightening or evil because in Mexico, there are not monsters or movie characters, only skeletons and La Catrina who are peaceful, joyful and welcomed guests. A popular event is the selecting the best Catrina costume- incredible detail goes into the creation.
Lastly, visit one of the evening festivals. Las Varas has an exceptional 4 day lineup of activities as well as the town of San Blas. Las Varas in only 15 minutes away and San Blas about an hour but both are a great day trip, especially during the Dia de Muertos festivals. You can click on the schedules to make them larger or to download for reference.
The festive atmosphere that predominates in the cemeteries on the occasion of the celebration of the Day of the Dead and throughout the community festivals is showing the best of Mexican cultural wealth that identifies Mexico to the world. Visitors will enjoy the activities and presentations, musicals, plays, costume contests, and altars. There is lots to enjoy both during the day and at night- don’t miss out on the spectical!
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