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Fusion of ancient traditions of the indigenous past
with christian elements, the day of the dead,
wrapped with fragances, flavors and popular
sensibility is undoubtly one of the most authentic
celebrations of Mexico.
Each part of the country has is very particular way
of celebrating this date and Mexico City too. From
little altars where families offer to their dead the
food and drink they used to enjoy in life to
theatrical performances and popular festivities in
the squares and neighborhoods of the city, Mexico
City offers in this days a big variety of cultural
activities, art exhibitions and nice sunny
weather that makes this
time of the year one of the best to know the
splendours of the city.
Here are some places that you can not miss if you
visit Mexico City in this days:
Dead offerings of University City
From years ago, the UNAM, the most important
university of Latin America organizes this offering
in its central campus with students and professors
that create this offerings (authentic artworks)
inspired by a book or a writer. Large cardboard
dolls, flowers and poetry begin to be prepared since
the last week of October for getting it ready to the
great celebration of November 1st and 2nd
when taking advantage of the weather take place open
air spectacles, plays and mexican folk and emergent
music in a family athmosphere with the irreverent
and fresh touch of the youth in a framework where
modern architecture dress up with lights, candles
and the most rooted traditions.
Day of the Dead Festival in Coyoacan
Each year increases the number of visitors that go
to the historical centre of Coyoacan to celebrate
this date in a mixture of the american halloween
with mexican traditions. The night of November 2nd
familes gather in the main square of Coyoacan
dressed up in different costumes, being the most
popular the one of “Catrina”. That character was
created by the mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada
in 1910 and painted by Diego Rivera in its mural
“Dream of a Sunday promenade around Alameda Central
park”. This character, a skeleton dressed with
elegant female époque garments, represented in that
time the decadent porfirian
oligarchy and has become over time in a point of
reference of the
mexican popular culture.
Offering of the Claustro de Sor Juana
In
the main altar of a colonial temple in the
Historical Centre is realized every year a majestic
dead offering, considered as one of the best
elaborated and with more artistic value. Accompanied
by sacred music and surrounded by the smells of the
flower Cempoasuchil, visiting this place is the
ideal pretext for walking around the area and taking
a look on the several events that take place in the
Zocalo Square and in the museum and culture centres
of the zone.
Night of Dead in Mixquic
Located in the south of the Metropolitan Area of
Mexico City, Mixquic is one the places of the
country where this celebration is more rooted.
During the night of November 1st a long car caravan
drive from different parts of the city to this point
where is an impressive number of people celebrating;
dead offerings are located at the entrance of houses
and shops, candles and orange flowers welcome us
while local kids ask for sweets on the streets.
Tradicional mexican sweets, food stalls and popular
dances are also part of the celebration. |
