Día de Muertos or Day of the dead is a famous and very symbolic traditional festivity celebrated all over Mexico, every state has its own very special beliefs and costumes, which is why there are so many variations of these festivities. Cancun, despite being a relatively young state shares very old traditions with Yucatan. So if you’d like to know a little more about this beautiful celebration we’ve brought you this specially themed article.
What is Día de los Muertos
Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead is a traditional holiday celebrated in Mexico and most of Mesoamerica to remember those who have passed away held on November 1 and 2.
It is said that on these days, the souls of family and friends come back to the mortal realm to visit those who they loved, so Mexican families have a custom of setting up an altar to receive their departed loved ones offering a banquette of foods and drinks that the departed person enjoyed when they were alive.
They are frequently set on a table with two levels, representing heaven and earth, and embellished with “Papel Picado” shredded paper on various traditional figures, which represents the wind that follows the souls), candles, which are the light that leads them home, sugar skulls, which stand in for death, and Cempasuchil flowers, which are used to atone for sin.
How To Celebrate Día de Muertos in Cancun?
Día de Muertos is usually celebrated alongside family members and friends, but everyone is welcome to join us on this beautiful festivity. Lots of people choose to reunite at home or at the cemetery to be close to their buried beloved ones, but, in Cancun, you can find some special events created for this special occasion.
The fragrances, colors, and sensations of the Day of the Dead are all around you at Xcaret’s Festival de Tradiciones de Vida y Muerte. Every year, Xcaret commemorates the Intangible Heritage of Humanity by combining Mayan rituals and a guest state. Visitors can enjoy our delectable traditional Mexican food, admire the variety of altars and offerings made in the traditional Mexican style, and participate in workshops, craft fairs, exhibitions, theater performances, dance performances, and gala concerts.
Another very important event in Cancun is Hanal Pixan, one of the most important and old traditions in Quintana Roo that continues to this day in a number of Mayan communities in the area. The preparation for the celebration includes: decorating the traditional altars of the dead with palm leaves, crosses, huipiles, candles, and food for the “deceased,” while praying and singing, sweeping the patios, and ensuring that no work is left unfinished. This event is held at the famous Parque de las palapas, a local town spot where people gather around and can enjoy different dances and shows that the Benito Juarez City Hall and locals have prepared for months.
Gastronomically, the Day of the Dead and Hanal Pixan are celebrations that burst with flavor for all souls to enjoy, so people prepare the best dishes in large proportions, and if you’re starting to feel a bit hungry and would like not only to try but to learn how to prepare delicious traditional Mexican food, we have a great cooking class.
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