Traditional sites

MEXICO CITY

In Mexico City, the most traditional offering is the one exhibited in the Frida Kalho Museum, in the area of Xochimilco, to the south of the City.

MIXQUIC

Days before the festival, families prepare 'tamales' - a local cornmeal food, chocolate, mole, rice, traditional sweets and Bread for the Dead. On November 1st. thousands of candles are lit on bedside-table type furniture. The following day, the population arm themselves with brushes, buckets and a great quantity of flowers, to clean and decorate the tombs. The festivities end in the evening in the cemetary.

XOCHIMILCO

The celebration begins at 3 pm. with the "Plaza de los Difuntos" - the "Square of the Dead,' in the town center.

There are also ritual celebrations in San Lorenzo Tezonco (DF), the State of Morelos and in Oaxaca; in the Maya region, in the south-east region of the country and in the Mazahuas villages, in the State of Mexico.

JANITZIO ISLAND in MICHOACAN

In the cemetary of the island of Janitzio, in Michoacán, the tradition of the "Day of the Dead" is the most prestigious. On the first of November, at 6 pm., the church bells begin to sound at one minute intervals and continue until dawn.

From the piers of the lake the canoes with the local traditional fishing nets in the shape of butterflies set sail lighting the way with the old-style torches. Meanwhile, the cemetary is lit with candles, and trays of fruit are placed on the graves along with floral tributes, whilst the womenfolk drop flower petals around the graves and light 'copal,' the local insence. The celbration lasts for two days.