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Celebrating The Day Of The Dead In Merida, Mexico … What’s Not To Love
By staying a week longer in Merida, I was able to partake in what was seven days of events celebrating the Day of the Dead recognized by the Mayans as Hanal Pixan, meaning “feast of the souls”. Indeed, it is! A well-orchestrated series of communal events to honor the spirits of those who have departed this world by welcoming their return. Celebrating and reconnecting with those that are no longer with us……
But First …What is the Origin of Hanal Pixan
Both the Aztecs and Mayans believed the dead should not be mourned, that life and death are not to be separated but instead celebrated every year when their spirits return to reunite with family and friends. I found this spiritual and romantic notion of death so appealing immediately, wanting to learn more about its origin. In fact, this thousand years old tradition has evolved quite a bit, influenced not only by Spanish Catholic rituals and customs but by those of other Latino countries and by tourism (that’s right tourism). These celebrations are getting bigger and more elaborate thanks to social media and the demand to travel.
