On Saturday, November 2, The annual Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City featured 6,000 artists and 1.3 million people in attendance, celebrating Mexican traditions and welcoming back the spirits of loved ones. The parade begins at the Puerta de Leones in Chapultepec Park. It then proceeds along Paseo de la Reforma and on to the Avenida Hidalgo. Finally, it makes its way to the main square of the city, Zócalo. Once there, the parade’s “Grand Closing” at the Mega Ofrenda commences.
A Prime Parade View: Staying at the Sheraton Mexico City Maria Isabel Hotel
Our hotel, Sheraton Mexico City Maria Isabel Hotel, was located in the perfect location directly on the parade route overlooking the Angel of Independence. We just walked out the front door and found the perfect parade vantage point to view and photograph the parade as it passes by on the roundabout. The traffic can be crazy in Mexico City on a normal day so if you can avoid driving on the holiday it is advised.
Secretary of Culture for Mexico City, Ana Francis Mor de Turismo helped put on the Grand Parade accompanied by government members. Locals and travelers unite together as catrinas, catrines, decorated with marigolds, masks, with floats and music. The celebration focuses on the joy and color of life and sees death as just a part of our life journey and not a definite end.
Preparation and Pride: Months of Crafting Costumes and Floats
For months before the Great Parade, women and men of all ages prepare regional costumes, masks, floats, and makeup ideas. When you see how detailed everyone’s outfits are and how grand the giant floats look, you won’t doubt that many hours went into the preparation for such an important day of the year. Many floats appear as skeletons in traditional costumes, but some of them are giant marionettes, controlled by parade members.
A Parade Inspired by Hollywood
The parade has an interesting history, actually stemming from a parade and carnival seen in the James Bond movie Spectre from 2015. The following year, officials in Mexico made the event a reality and have made it an annual event every year since. This year, more than 600 catrinas (skeletons), axolotls (the city’s sacred salamander), and mariachis paraded alongside 71 cars and 16 musical bands. Among the participants were sixteen hundred members of the urban project PILARES, thirteen hundred from the Secretariat of #CulturaCdMx and 500 from the UTOPIA group.
Marching bands made of skeletons and dancers with skull face paint performing in native costumes filled the streets as thousands of guests embraced the cultural practices of Mexico. A group of dancers pranced around in skirts and wings to resemble the monarch butterflies, which traditionally migrate in the winter to Mexico around the time of the Day of the Dead. Face painting booths can be found along the parade route where artists are ready to make you into catrinas.
At night, Mexico City is transformed into a lit-up celebration with skeletons made out of lights and sugar skulls shining over the walkways and streets. The festivities continue with the sounds of mariachi bands and the aromas of traditional Mexican food filling the area while families and friends remember their deceased family members. It is truly amazing how this city reimagines the passing of their loved ones into a colorful celebration of life that people from all over the world come to take part in.