Is El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) a Mexican version of Halloween? Apparently not, so I set out to discover the differences on Isla Mujeres (Island of Women), which is located off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. The island is small, 4.3 miles long and less than a mile wide. I headed for Avenida Hidalgo down which holiday parades travel to La Explananda Municipal. Guarding the gates of the city cemetery, where parade participants assemble, was a man dressed as a Mayan god representing the eagle. A few hours later I encountered this god having beers and enjoying the earthly spirits of this world. Carrying a bag of candies and some loose pesos I worked my way along the avenue lined with restaurants and bars filled with people in costumes waiting for the parade. The candies allowed me to get the attention of the costumed children and give them a token for posing for me. The parents were grateful for the interaction.
The atmosphere in the square is all about family. Generations come together dressed in costumes. The attention to minute detail is expressed in the costumes and elaborate face paintings. One little girl had glass teeth applied to her face to resemble the teeth of a skull. Another pushed along on a full bed writhed and contorted as if possessed by demons. The crowd was filled with angels, menacing clowns and skeletons. One of the best was an adult costumed as a full size pinata. These were not off the shelf costumes. One of my favorite acts was of a group of young children dressed as neon green dinosaurs who danced in perfect synchronization amid blasting smoke machines.
UNESCO added Dia de los Muertos to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2008, recognizing it reflected cultural traditions passed down for generations. Halloween is meant to scare whereas Day of the Dead strives to connect families with the spirits of their deceased.
Cosmo Condina’s stock photography is available through Alamy Images. Condina offers limited edition prints at www.cosmocondinaprints.com.
