Imagine a sky full of stars, the Mexican Cemetery in Xcaret lit by hundreds of candles, altars for the dead adorned with cut colored paper and marigolds, the smell of incense filling the air and the irresistible taste of churros with chocolate. The Festival of Life and Death Traditions decorated with color, art and exquisite aromas, the unique experience of the Mayan Riviera. For four days, the park not only greeted spirits from the afterworld, but almost 16 thousand attendees among which there were tourists and locals, many of them dressed for the occasion with quaint skulls drawn on their faces.

The schedule of activities began with a dramatized reading of “Macario, the son of the Death” which was magnificently performed by renowned actor Ignacio Lopez Tarso, who received a standing ovation. On the other hand, the musical “Vivir Muriendo” (To live dying) by Astrid Hadad tore roars of laughter from spectators in the Open Forum; the singer Tonana interpreted melodies in nahuatl, maya, zapotec and tzoltzil with her privileged voice, and the theatre ensemble “La Troupe” made a delightful presentation of original light effects, puppets, dances and songs. Theatre, folkloric dance, cinema, altar and skull contests, conferences, music, guided tours and workshops for children, complemented the four day agenda to include the taste and expectations from big and small skulls.

“Death only lives in oblivion” is a wise Mayan saying. Only the person who has no one to remember him, really dies, so the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexican culture, held on November the 2nd, is an eternal call for life, a feast where the souls return to taste their favorite dishes, drink and share with their families.

The Festival of Life and Death Traditions is an event held every year at Xcaret Park; a space for cultural exchanges where over 40 Maya communities in our region attend to show the rest of the world the wealth of their customs; a place where the ideas from the past face the arts in the present while the living enjoy the opportunity to remember our dead in order to celebrate life together.

If you are planning to visit Xcaret next year, consider these dates: October 30 through November 2nd. Not only will you visit the best park in Mexico, but you will also be able to look into the afterworld.