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Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a tradititional post-Halloween event in Mexico and Mexican communities. In contrast to its name it is really a celebration of life for past loved ones.
Naturally, Mexico City has one of the biggest celebrations around and it starts in October all building to a parade as thousands of people take to the streets dressed as zombies for a festive, colorful event, making it kind of the Mardi Gras of Mexico, all up until Nov. 5.
Additonally, the Zocalo hosts an Ofrenda Monumental, or massive offering that fills the entire plaza with altars, flowers, incense, photographs, and more.
The month-long celebration kicked off on October 6 with the Festival de la Llorona en el Embarcadero de Cuemanco, which took place on the canals of Xochimilco, the Venice of the Americas. The evening show takes place aboard the colorful trajineras and includes a performance on the legend of La Llorona (The Crying Woman).
On October 18, the Festival de las Flores de Cempasúchil takes over Paseo de la Reforma with thousands of brilliantly colored marigolds illuminating the path of the dead. It is estimated that five million marigold flowers will be produced this season.
October 21 marks one of the most highly anticipated events of Day of the Dead in Mexico City: the Desfile de Alebrijes Monumentales, a parade of giant puppets that measure up to eight feet tall. Alebrijes are gorgeous works of art that blur the lines between reality and surrealism. They have become one of the most time-honored traditions of Mexico City’s Day of the Dead.
The parade is a precursor to the next magnificent event. The following day, October 22, begins the Mega Procesion de Catrinas. This spectacle is a massive parade that begins at the Angel of Independence in Reforma and ends at the Zocalo, in the heart of the Centro Historico. Hundreds of gorgeous Catrinas take to the streets, with hauntingly beautiful painted faces, elaborate costumes, flowers, and music. La Catrina is the primary figure of Day of the Dead, a representation of an Aztec figure, The Goddess of Death, who was later popularized by engraver Jose Guadalupe Posada.
TheFormula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix is Oct. 26, which only adds to the party atmosphere.
All of this is, of course, a build-up to the actual Day of the Dead. Celebrated between October 31 and November 5. All are invited to participate in the events spread out over the month of October. Celebrations are held in every city across the country and it’s especially big in Mexico City.
Getting To Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the easiest destinations to access, thanks to thousands of non-stop flights from around the world, as well as from around Mexico. Benito Juarez International Airport is one of the main hubs of Latin America, with direct U.S. flights from Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, San Antonio, Orlando, Las Vegas, Newark, Denver, Austin, Detroit, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Oakland, and Sacramento.
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