How rad would it be to go on a Day of the Dead Vacation in Mexico? Day of the Dead, or Dia de Los Muertos, has influenced pop culture for decades. We’ve seen the iconic sugar skull on everything from tattoos to kitchen towels. It has even made its way into pop film (as we saw two years ago with The Book of Life and the soon to be released new Pixar animated film, Coco). There’s something incredibly appealing about the bright and beautiful artwork that comes from this traditional Mexican holiday which makes it so marketable. And giving credit where it’s due, having spent the last three years doing work in Mexico, I’ve found it’s a home to a culture which breeds fine craftsmen and artists of many mediums. But it’s not just the famed sugar skull which makes this holiday so appealing, it’s the festival itself.
What is the Day of the Dead
Known by locals in Mexico as “The Festival of the Dead” it’s a celebration of life for those we love who have passed on. Traditionally, family members will create an altar in the cemetery where their loved one was laid to rest. They will prepare the favorite meals of the deceased, play their favorite music and decorate a dedicated altar with special items of significant meaning. It’s believed that on November 1st and 2nd that the dead are able to dance among the living and celebrate with their favorite things. You can imagine this is a very personal celebration. To experience this as a tourist, you must know a family who is celebrating or you catch a local parade. So how can you go on a Day of the Dead vacation if you don’t have an in?
A Day of the Dead Vacation
The Xcaret Day of the Dead (or the Festival of Life and Death as they call it) is a popular event among Mexican nationals. It honors the Day of the Dead and was even declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, for celebrating the Festival of Life and Death Traditions every year on October 30th and 31st and on November 1st and 2nd.
Xcaret Park celebrates both the new and old traditions such as the Hanal Pixan ritual (food for the souls), cuisine of the region, workshops, crafts, gifts and altars, visual arts exhibitions, theater, dance and gala concerts. This four-day event will take you through every aspect of the tradition without you needed an insider or intruding on personal traditions. And when combined with an incredible hotel like the all-inclusive Grand Velas, your Day of the Dead vacation can be both relaxing and cultured.