Mexico City – Ofrendas, parades, plays, confetti and cempasúchil flowers are all part of Mexico City’s Day of the Dead celebration that, this year, will take place in a different way due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Day of the Dead celebration is one of the most emblematic of Mexico. In 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included it on their Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
This celebration that allows us to honor the memory of loved ones who have departed is just around the corner, but the new normal has caused events and festivities to adapt and change. Even so, it is possible to attend some of them in person, by wearing masks and maintaining a healthy distance.
Five Day of the Dead events that have adapted to the new reality in times of pandemic.
1. Mexicraneos
Every October, the Paseo de la Reforma avenue in Mexico City is dressed in orange with marigold flowers announcing the arrival of departed souls. The coronavirus did not stop Los Mexicráneos from adding to the decorations on this thoroughfare, as they have every year since 2017, which means that you can see them live. These giant skulls that stand out for their colors and great variety of designs can also be seen on calles París y Francia in the Juárez neighborhood.
You can now enjoy its colors and take a photo with one of the 55 skulls that make up the exhibition. It has no cost and will last until November 10. Do not forget to bring your mask and make sure there aren’t a lot of people standing too close when you remove it to have your photo taken. For your safety, do not touch the skulls, since the virus can also be transmitted from touching contaminated surfaces.
2. International Day of the Dead Parade 2020
Seeing the costumes and floats up close has made Mexico City’s Día de Muertos parade one of the holiday’s greatest attractions, so the Mixed Tourism Promotion Fund (FMPT) and show producer Vuela Corp have made it possible for everyone to enjoy the Day of the Dead parade, and pay tribute to the loved ones lost this year, without leaving home.
This year’s Day of the Dead Parade will be carried out virtually through an app called ‘Xóchitl, Mexico’s virtual ambassador for the world” that will work as an interactive digital platform with augmented reality that includes multimedia content related to the Mexican traditions, culture, and entertainment related to this holiday.
3. Folkloric Ballet: And where will the dead go?
A journey through time, from when human sacrifices were practiced until the present day in which the celebration of the Day of the Dead is resumed, is what can be found in And where will the dead go? from director Guillermo González Aranda.
The staging of the Mexican Folkloric Ballet will take place on October 31 at 7:00 pm at the Esperanza Iris City Theater (located Donceles 36, Historic Center). Space is limited, so we recommend you buy your ticket as soon as possible. Tickets cost 163 pesos and are available at Ticketmaster.
4. Xolotl: Ofrenda at the Museo del Carmen
What would the Day of the Dead be without the ofrendas, the smell that the copal, the fruits and the candle wax give off; the orange colors of the marigold, the pan de muerto and the papel picado? Although this year there will be no mega-ofrenda, you can enjoy one at the Museo del Carmen on a smaller scale, and with a reduced number of visitors, of course.
This Day of the Dead ofrenda, dedicated to the Mexican painter and sculptor Manuel Felguérez; as well as health personnel, was inaugurated on Tuesday, October 27 at a by reservation-only event.
If you missed the opening, you can see it from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Tuesday-Saturday at a cost of 65 pesos. Children, seniors, teachers and students with valid credentials do not pay admission. On Sundays, admission is free from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, but please practice social distancing and wear your mask.
Museo del Carmen is located at Av. Revolución 4 & 6, Colonia San Ángel, south of CDMX.
5. La Llorona in Xochimilco
This classic presentation of the Day of the Dead, that combines music, dance and theater, is part of an exciting in-person event that, abiding by all sanitary measures, takes place in Xochimilco from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm every Friday, Saturday & Sunday until November 15.
The show lasts an hour and the trajinera ride an hour and a half. Everything is included with the purchase of tickets, which are available through Ticketmaster for a price of 387 pesos. In order to enjoy the show, you must wear a mask and constantly wash your hands. Antibacterial gel is available aboard the trajineras, which have capacity for a maximum of 12 people.
Participate in any of these activities to celebrate the Day of the Dead, taking into account sanitary measures. If you go to any of these events, don’t forget your mask.
El Universal article translated and edited by Ricardo Acerco for BanderasNews.com.
