On October 31, and November 1 and 2, the Mexican people celebrate their loved ones who have passed on. The best way to describe this Mexican holiday is to say that it is a time when Mexican families remember their dead and at the same time, the continuity of life.
Every Town has its History
An important thing to know about the Mexican Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is that it is a holiday with a complex history, and therefore its observance varies quite a bit by region and by degree of urbanization. It is not a morbid occasion, but rather a festive time. Generally speaking, the holiday’s activities consist of families welcoming their dead back into their homes, and also visiting the graves of their departed loved ones. At the cemetery, family members clean up the gravesite, decorate it with flowers, and set out and enjoy a picnic while visiting with other family and community members who gather there. In both cases, celebrants believe that the souls of the dead, the ánimas, return and are all around them.
All Celebrations have their own dish
In Yucatán, the holiday is known as Hanal Pixan. The meals prepared for these picnics are sumptuous, usually featuring the foods the departed loved ones liked, such as the Yucatecan chicken and pork pot pie dish, mucbilpollo, and a special egg-batter bread, pan de muerto, or bread of the dead. Gravesites and family altars in the homes are profusely decorated with flowers (usually yellow, orange, and purple), and adorned with religious amulets and with offerings of food, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages for the adults and toys for the children.
The traditional observance calls for departed children to be remembered Oct. 31, the Day of the Little Angels, or Día de los Angelitos, and for adults to be remembered on Nov. 1, All Saints Day. Nov. 2 is for all the souls, and is called All Souls Day, or Día de los Fieles Difuntos.
Make your own Altar
In the markets Lucas de Galvez and San Benito you will find colored candles that are used to decorate the altars, and sugar skulls with names on the foreheads that are also used. Both the candles and the skulls are unique to this time of year.
Hanal Pixán VS Halloween
It is just within the last few years that we are seeing pumpkins and witches and the North American celebration of Halloween. With the introduction of Halloween, many Day of the Dead traditions are being lost. It is with this in mind that many institutions and families are working hard to keep our Mexican and Yucatecan traditions alive.
You will find altars in many restaurants, hotels, and in private homes.
Read more about Día de Muertos and Hanal Pixán:
- Festival de las Ánimas in Yucatán
- An Awaited Celebration: Hanal Pixan
- Hanal Pixan Altars
- ¡Ya Huele a Pib! (it smells like Pib!)
- Pib Season
See here a little bit of what Día de Muertos is all about:
A video by Gustavo Moguel
FB: Gustavo Moguel
IG: @gustavomoguel
Get to know one of the most and beautiful traditions in Campeche:
A film by Pegasus Family
Written & directed by Oliver Kyr
Esta entrada también está disponible en: ES
What is the schedule for Paseo de las Animas for 2018?
Hola David! We don’t have the information yet…it won’t be finalized until closer to the date is my guess. We have elections on July 1 and so all the cultural events will not be on anyone’s radar until after that date! Keep checking back with us. Send me an email to [email protected] and that way it will be in my “in” box to remind me to get back to you as soon as we know something.