- Title: Mexicans fill streets with colour and skeletons during Catrina parade
- Date: 24th October 2016
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (OCTOBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** WOMAN ON STILTS IN CATRINA OUTFIT IN FRONT OF INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT VARIOUS OF "CATRINA" PARADE, FEATURING PEOPLE DRESSED AS SKELETONS, WITH FACE PAINT IN LEAD UP TO DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO CARAVAN OF CATRINA PARADE PROCESSION ALONG REFORMA AVENUE SPECTATORS TAKING PHOTOS VARIOUS MORE OF PROCESSION AND PARADE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CATRINAS PARADE ORGANISER, JESSICA ESQUIVIAS, SAYING: "Well, for us, it's very important to rescue the culture of our country, our tradition, and get back to our roots." VARIOUS MORE OF PROCESSION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CATRINAS PARADE PARTICIPANT, EDITH GONZALEZ, SAYING: "Well, it's a part of Mexican culture. It's a tradition that is being lost, as it's hard to compete with Halloween. The costumes is part of returning to our traditions, and that's why we brought our kids to share in this." PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS OF PARADE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE POSING IN THEIR CATRINA COSTUME VARIOUS OF WOMEN HAVING MAKEUP APPLIED ON HER AS PART OF CATRINAS COSTUME, POSING FOR CAMERA
- Embargoed: 8th November 2016 16:51
- Keywords: Catrinas Day of the Dead costumes skeleton ose Guadalupe Posada Dia de Muertos
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00155D732B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Mexicans donned costumes and face paint on Sunday (October 23), disguising themselves as the iconic Mexican skeleton figure known as "la Catrina" or "Elegant Skull" and flooded the streets for a pre-Day of the Dead parade.
The Catrina was created by Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852 - 1913), a Mexican cartoonist illustrator and artist whose work has influenced many Latin American artists and cartoonists because of its satirical acuteness and political engagement.
The parade took place days before the Day of the Dead, a pre-Hispanic tradition in which families remember their dead and celebrate the continuity of life. Mexican set up offerings to the dead which include photographs, food, candles, flowers, personal items, skulls made out of sugar, skeletons of paper mache and sweets.
Parade organiser Jessica Esquivas explained the parade's link to Mexican history.
"Well, for us, it's very important to rescue the culture of our country, our tradition, and get back to our roots," she said.
A participant said the event was important to make Mexican traditions stand out.
"Well, it's a part of Mexican culture. It's a tradition that is being lost, as it's hard to compete with Halloween. The costumes is part of returning to our traditions, and that's why we brought our kids to share in this," said Edith Gonzalez.
The November 2 "Dia de Muertos" or All Souls' Day interweaves Spanish influences with indigenous ancestor worship in South America, especially in places with strong indigenous populations such as in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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