- Title: Mexico City holds its first Day of the Day parade
- Date: 30th October 2016
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (OCTOBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) FLOAT OF HUGE SKELETON SMOKING CIGAR GOING PAST CROWDS OF PEOPLE IN PARADE
- Embargoed: 13th November 2016 01:48
- Keywords: skulls skeletons parade Day of the Dead
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00156733NN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexico's traditional Day of the Dead has a new twist as the capital city put on its first-ever parade on Saturday (October 29), inspired by James Bond's 'Spectre'.
Tens of thousands of spectators crowded along Mexico City's Avenida Reforma to watch floats featuring skeletons, traditional dances and musical groups.
Brightly-coloured flowers and folk art sculptures of whimsical creatures known as alebrijes dotted the crowd.
With her face painted to resemble a skeleton, Mexican spectator Jazmin Juarez said she was excited by the event.
"Today is the first Day of the Dead parade. This is something very new in Mexico City. We have never had anything like this. And all of us Mexicans are very happy that the government has made an effort to do something special for us today," she said.
According to organizers, the idea for the parade came from the opening scene of the movie 'Spectre' in which 007 chases a criminal through a Mexico City crowd of spectators watching a parade of people wearing skeleton costumes.
The parade drew many tourists, like Brazilian Priscila Simao.
"For the first time, they are holding this pretty parade and it is very special for Mexican culture, on a day that is so special to Mexico as is the Day of the Dead, and so I was curious to see what it would be like," she said.
American university professor Sherry Rovelo said the Day of the Dead is an important occasion because it forces people to focus on the inevitable destiny of each person-- death-- and to remember their loved one who have died.
"My husband and I are here to celebrate the annual Dia de los Muertos festival. We are college professors and we share a lot of this culture with our students in Dallas. For us, el Dia de los Muertos is a lot more special than Halloween because it is the Day of Death, to celebrate death, which is all of our futures-- we're all going to be on the other side sooner or later. And also, we want to remember those who have passed on before us," she said.
Fused with Catholic festivals of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, the Day of the Dead is one of the most deep-rooted traditions in Mexico, celebrated by millions of people from Mayan Indians in the tropical south to urban professionals in Mexico City.
Drawing on beliefs that the dead can return from the underworld, the celebrations begin on November 1 with the Day of the Innocents to honour departed children, and ends with the Day of the Dead on November 2 for adults.
Mexican families set up altars in homes, restaurants and offices, beckoning home the souls of the dead with photographs and cherished keepsakes amid an array of candy skulls, chocolates and their favourite food or alcohol.
Offerings include "pan de muerto," a cake sprinkled with sugar and decorated to look like bones, as well as tequila shots and a glass of water to quench the returning soul's thirst following a long journey from the underworld. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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