Gear up for a spooky weekend with ‘The Day of The Dead’

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Mexicans gather to commemorate loved ones who have passed away during the Day of the Dead, a celebration of life and death that lasts from October 31 to November 2. One of the most significant occasions in the Mexican calendar is Dia de los Muertos, as it is known in Spanish. This event, which dates back to before the Spanish even arrived in the Americas, combines indigenous Mayan and Aztec history and culture with Christian beliefs.

In Mexico, each region celebrates the deceased in a different way, and each has its own distinct traditions. Here are the top locations in Mexico to celebrate the Day of the Dead to get you started on your own cultural journey!

Oaxaca
The Historic Center of Oaxaca is considered Human World Heritage by UNESCO. The cultural hub of Oaxaca is among the greatest locations to witness the celebrations firsthand. Before the Day of the Dead begins, you can start by touring the vibrant marketplaces in Oaxaca City, where locals and tourists alike buy anything from Pan de Muerto, or death bread, to distinctive figurines that are placed on the altars of loved ones. Every street has a parade or a fiesta, and if you don’t have your face painted like a skeleton and aren’t dressed appropriately, you’ll look out of place.

Riviera Maya
Mexico’s favorite tourist destination is the Riviera Maya, where you can enjoy gorgeous resorts and sun-kissed beaches along the Caribbean coast. The Riviera Maya is likely most known for these beaches and resorts, but it’s also a fantastic cultural centre for Mayan customs, making it a great location for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. The largest event in the Riviera Maya takes place at Xcaret, a famous theme park and environment where visitors can go on adventures. Xcaret transforms itself during the Day of the Dead to hold parades, cultural events, and even workshops where you can learn more about the celebration, its history, and its traditions than you can’t find anywhere else in Mexico.

Merida
Yucatan’s capital, Merida, is one of the several southern cities that grandly celebrates the Day of the Dead. Food plays a major part in Dia de Muertos and the city is frequently referred to as the gastronomic capital of the south due to the unusual quantity of Mayan delicacies that have persisted until this day. This is a celebration of life that uses food as the medium, known in the local Mayan dialect as “Food for the Souls.” There will be food carts selling street fare all over. Families will place food and drink on altars in the graves and then consume even more food and liquids there. Mucbipollo, a delectable regional dish made of chicken baked underground in a clay oven, is the customary meal consumed on this day.

Mexico City
The capital is usually a terrific spot to celebrate because of the enormous diversity of individuals from all over the country who call Mexico City home, even though historically the Day of the Dead celebrations were not a part of the culture in the more northern regions of Mexico. The actual “Day of the Dead,” which is observed on November 2, can be celebrated in Mexico City for up to a full week before or after. The city is filled with boisterous Fiestas throughout this time. The Day of the Dead Parade, which features tens of thousands of performers parading through the city’s main streets in grotesque and vibrant traditional costumes, is the actual spectacle.

Janitzio
In the midst of Lake Patzcuaro, a small, serene freshwater lake in the state of Michoacan is the tiny, uninhabited island of Janitzio. It’s difficult to reach and requires taking a boat across to the island, but once there, it’s an amazing spot to enjoy genuine native celebrations in a spectacular setting. The Day of the Dead is a tradition among the indigenous groups in the area. Across the lake, you can see fishermen rowing their boats while lighting lanterns in waterborne processions, and the cemeteries on the island turn into hubs of activity as families, friends, and visitors commemorate loved ones and celebrate life.

« Back to Page