Chocolate, A Delightful Protagonist Of The 6th Festival of Life and Dead Traditions At Xcaret, Cancun- Riviera Maya!!

Delighting yourself with a delicious cup of real chocolate at the Riviera Maya is one of the most attractive reasons to attend to the 6th Festival of Life and Dead Traditions at Xcaret, as Tabasco, the land of cocoa, is the guest state to this great celebration of the Day of the Dead. 

 The ancient Mexicans knew the nutritional value of cocoa and held it in such high esteem that it was also used as currency. In fact, the tlatoani Moctezuma, the Mexican emperor, required part of their taxes in cocoa beans.

 In Mexico, the cocoa plant growth throughout the warm zone of the country, from Tabasco, to Michoacan, Colima, Chiapas and Campeche. In fact, the Olmec from Tabasco were the first to include cocoa as a sacred beverage in their rituals, three thousand of years ago!

  The way of make chocolate was inherited to the Maya and Aztecs, so when the Spaniards arrived, “xocolatl” was sophisticated drink, not just ceremonial, but exclusive of the aristocracy. It was prepared with water, wild honey and vanilla.

The chocolate available in stores has a low percentage of cocoa and a very high sugar and other ingredients. The Haciendas cacaoteras (cacao plantations) of Tabasco preserve the tradition of growing cacao and, in this ocassion, in the 6th Festival of Life and Dead Traditions at Xcaret, They allow us to enjoy the taste of chocolate as the ancient Mexican made it.

  Are you coming to the 6th Festival of  Life and Dead Traditions at Xcaret? Then you can not miss the opportunity to discover how to make a cup of traditional chocolate and share with our friends of Tabasco the delicious flavor of its cuisine and its lively music. Remembering our dead ones is a cause for celebration, an excuse to share, so we’ll be glad to see you in the Riviera Maya, on this next Day of the Dead at Xcaret.

Share This Post and Tell Us What Would You Like To See On Our 6th Festival Of Life And Dead Traditions At Xcaret!!

Chocolate and drums from Tabasco for the Death and Life Traditions Festival at the Cancun Family Park, Xcaret.

Day of the Dead in Mexico is not about sadness or tears. It’s a mystic and cheerful tradition. Its colors, aromas and flavors summarize many times and many memories for each of the Mexicans. Because the Day of the Dead is a so-Mexican festivity, Xcaret celebrates it since 2006. During the Death and Life Traditions Festival we remember all of our loved ones who went on before us in the path we all have to walk sometime.

This year, Tabasco will be the guest state of the Life and Death Traditions Festival at Xcaret (Cancun family Park). Tabasco, land of cacao and the joyful rhythm of drums, will share its traditions for the Day of Dead during the festival, which central theme is “La Muerte Niña”: how Mexican hold a wake for dead children.  Parents used to paint them as if the children were slept and use to put their favorite toys in the altar.

The Life and Death Traditions Festival will be the perfect opportunity to go into the cacao’s world. There are in Tabasco some places were people keep the way to make chocolate as the mayan did. Those places are called Haciendas Cacaoteras and two of the most important ones will bring to Xcaret the magic of the real Mexican chocolate.  In the Childen’s Pavilion of the Festival the family will enjoy storytelling, Contemporary Dance, Tabasco Drummers, traditional music and cultural workshops.

At the Festival, Ofelia Medina will present “Mexican Voices”, which is about three great women who have formed a fundamental part of the culture of Mexico: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Rosario Castellanos and Frida Kahlo. Visitors will enjoy also the fabulous music of Jaramar and a concert of the Carlos Chavez Quartet.

The 6th Festival of Life and Death Traditions at Xcaret (Cancun Family Park) will be held on October 30th and 31th, November 1st and 2nd. Have you come to enjoy Day of the Dead in Mexico before? Tell us what did you like the most! We wait for you at Xcaret!