Day of the Dead, The Most Ancient Mexican Tradition At Xcaret

Cempasuchil flowers, copal scent, candle lights and intense colors for celebrating the Death. So this is Mexico and the 6TH Festival Of Life & Death Traditions In Xcaret, at the Riviera Maya: we celebrate to those who had gone before us with a lively party that stays forever in our memory.

  This is Mexico‘s oldest tradition, dating back to Pre-Hispanic times, about three thousand years ago. There are records of rituals dedicated to the dead among the Aztecs, Mayans, Purepecha and Totonacas since that date. The meaning of death was the way to get into another world that had nothing to do with the catholic concepts of hell or heaven.

This world was known as Mictlan. Eduardo Merlo, a Mexican archaeologist describes it: “According to the belief of the ancient Mexican civilization, when a person dies, his spirit continues living in Mictlan, place of residence of souls who have left the earthly life. Benevolent gods created this idyllic site that is far from darkness and it is rather gloomy calm and pleasant, where souls rest peacefully until the day appointed by the custom, when they return to their former homes to visit their relatives. Although we cannot see them during this visit, we can feel their presence. 

 In the Riviera Maya world, the Day of the Dead tradition is known as Hanal Pixan, which means “food of the soul” and has a little bit more influence of the Catholic faith brought by the Spanish conquerors. 

In Xcaret, located at the Riviera Maya, we’re ready to celebrate the Day of the Dead at the 6TH Festival Of Life & Death Traditions with all its colors, scents and flavors, with the joyous music of Tabasco drummers and the delicious chocolate.

 How Do You Celebrate The Day of the Dead?

Ah, the wine, one of the most delicious liquids of the world! It is also one of the oldest and healthiest if you drink it moderately, of course. Maybe tequila and beer are known as the “traditional” Mexican beverages, but wine made in México has been rising in both quantity and quality since the 1980s. Interest in Mexican wine is also growing and several companies have received numerous awards in the recent years. Did you know there’s a wine cellar at Xcaret?

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When you see this pic, you cannot imagine how this beautiful and innoxious kitty can become in a huge, imposing cougar. It’s so cute, and it doesn’t even meows yet! This cougar cub has born at Xcaret, the awsome eco park close to Cancún and the Riviera Maya.

This cute cougar cube has only three months and it’s the first cougar born at Xcaret! Do you want to know what her name is? Soon you will know it if you follow us!

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To paint the sky with their colors, that seems to be the macaws’ purpose. They’re beautiful birds that can to be found in Mexico throughout Central America and, unfortunately, they’re endangered. But on 2009, Xcaret recorded 105 births of green and red macaws and that’s why this beautiful natural park in the Riviera Maya got into the Guinnes Book!

It was such a magic moment at Xcaret. Outside of the San Francisco of Assisi Chapel, the highest spot in the park, tens of macaws flied away at the same time. A huge rainbow -red, blue, yellow green- scattered in the horizon of the Caribbean Sea.

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The jungle of the Caribbean is the best place for your vacation in Mexico, but it is also the perfect scenario for a Mayan legend. Here in Xel-Há is told a beautiful legend about two brothers, a princess and a great love.  Would you like to read the legend?

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