Mexico prepares for the Feast of the Dead

The country will offer many colourful experiences to the millions of visitors expected for the celebrations of this millennial tradition. The festivities will begin in Mexico City on October 27 with the third edition of the Parade.

As Mexico prepares to celebrate the Feast of the Dead, visitors from all over the world are invited to experience this unique celebration. The entire country, from Janitzio Island to Michoacán, the cities of Chiapas and the great Zócalo of Mexico City, will dress in traditional colours and welcome millions of visitors to participate in one of the most spectacular celebrations ever.

Named as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2008 by UNESCO, the Feast of the Dead is an unforgettable experience for visitors and locals alike. It is an ancestral heritage from different pre-Hispanic cultures, associated with the celebration of Catholic All Saints’ Day. The festivities take place from the end of October to the first week of November. Based on popular beliefs, the deceased return each year to visit their loved ones and enjoy offerings, often drinks and food.

« It is a tradition that has blended with popular culture and has become a celebration that belongs to everyone. Nowhere else can visitors experience such a colourful, magical and surrealist celebration, » says Hector Flores Santana, Executive Director of the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB). « Our cultural diversity is one of the reasons why Mexico has become the 6th most visited country in the world. This celebration pays tribute to the past and our ancestors and is an invitation to visit and understand why Mexico is a world apart. »

The Feast of the Dead in Mexico is one of the most important celebrations in the world. Every year, it attracts more than 7.5 million visitors from all over the world who wish to experience these cultural and gastronomic traditions. According to figures from the Mexican Tourism Secretariat (SECTUR), the November 1 and 2 celebrations will generate more than US$208 million in revenue for the tourism sector.

All the rites and traditions highlighted in the country during this festival, both in the cities and in the villages, are mainly located in the states of Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosi and Mexico.

More than a kilometre long and with the states of Aguascalientes, Oaxaca, Michoacán and San Luis Potosi as special guests, the traditional Fiesta de los Muerte parade will be held in Mexico City for the third time on Saturday, October 27. Skulls, tanks and catrinas larger than life will pass through the Paseo de la Reforma, the monument of La Estela de Luz and the Zocalo, which will become the scene of offerings for the dead. Free concerts of rock, jazz, blues and traditional Mexican music will close this day rich in colour and flavour.

Last year, the parade attracted more than a million visitors and more than 1,500 volunteers who filled the city with energy and joy. These many volunteers came from different regions of Mexico and even from elsewhere. This year, nearly 2,000 organizers and volunteers are expected.