After a corona-related break last year, people in Mexico are celebrating Día de Muertos – the day of the dead – again with music, dancing and brightly decorated floats.
Mexico City – Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations began with a colorful parade in the capital.
Hundreds of disguised people danced and made music through the center of Mexico City on Sunday, some on floats decorated in carnival style. They were admired by thousands of spectators on the roadside. Many people had their faces painted with skull motifs. Numerous parade participants wore skeleton costumes. Various motifs from traditional as well as popular Mexican culture were represented.
The “Día de Muertos” is celebrated every year on All Saints ‘Day and All Souls’ Day. As in other Catholic regions of the world, the dead are remembered – mostly at the graves of deceased relatives. In Mexico, the tradition is mainly cultivated in the indigenous communities. It is believed that the souls of family members come to visit on these days from the afterlife. Altars are set up at home and decorated with flowers, candles, photos, religious signs, food and drink.
The parade in Mexico City has only been held annually in the run-up to the holiday since 2016. It is modeled on a move that was seen in the James Bond film “Specter” from 2015. Because of the corona pandemic, the parade was canceled last year. Their victims should be honored at this year’s edition.
Mexico has reported more than 288,000 Covid-19 deaths – the fourth highest in the world. So far, about 46 percent of the approximately 126 million inhabitants of the North American country have been fully vaccinated against the corona virus. Most of the crowded spectators on Sunday wore mouth and nose protection. dpa
