Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – From October 31st through November 4th, Velas Resorts in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit will be celebrating El Día de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), considered to be one of the most representative holidays of Mexican culture, with ofrendas, traditional recipes, tasting menus, special décor and more.
Each of the Banderas Bay area Velas resorts will create a bright and colorful Altar de Muerto (altar for the dead) decorated with all the traditional ofrendas, from marigolds, ash, salt, food, and water, to ceramic Catrinas and sugar skulls. This year, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit will debut a Prehispanic-themed ‘living carpet’ especially for kids, in ode to one of the most representative holidays of Mexican culture.
In addition to the Altar de Muerto, all three resorts will have staff dressed as Catrinas, and Calaveritas decorations throughout, as well as activities that allow guests to experience the Mexican culture and understand the history of the holiday.
La Catrina is one of the main icons of the Day of the Dead, symbolizing the resilience of all Mexican people who laugh at death, instead of fearing it. The elegantly-dressed skeleton serves as a reminder that death equalizes us all, regardless of our societal class.
Calaveritas, little skulls made from ceramic or hardened clay, are another symbol of Día de Los Muertos celebrations. Originally made from clay-molded sugar, they are also known as “Sugar Skulls,” but no matter what they are made from, Calaveritas are traditionally very colorful and whimsical to encourage and guide the deceased back to earth.
Velas Vallarta invites guests to decorate La Catrina masks as well as ceramic sugar skulls for the temporary altars placed at the resort. Additionally, La Catrina and clay and ceramic “Sugar Skull” art from Jalisco, the state in which Velas Vallarta is located, and Michoacán, the preeminent place for handicrafts in Mexico, will be available for purchase.
The Casa Velas adults-only boutique hotel in Puerto Vallarta will deliver traditional Pan de Muertos November 2nd as an added amenity in the suite, and serve pan de muerto with traditional Mexican hot chocolate at its fine dining Emiliano Restaurant.
The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit resort will host a Catrina Contest where the staff from different departments dress up like a Catrina before making a tour through the guest areas of the hotel. At the end, guests vote for the winner.
In addition to all of this, Velas Vallarta will feature one of the biggest “Altar de Muerto” in Marina Vallarta at 40 sq. ft., and all three Banderas Bay area Velas resorts will sponsor giant Catrinas along the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta. The papier-mâché Catrinas, traditional in the state of Jalisco, are being made by Tourism and Hospitality Management students at the University of Guadalajara’s Centro Universitario de la Costa.
For more information or to make your reservations to take advantage of this unique experience, call 1-888-407-4869, or visit velasresorts.com.
Source: PRWEB