The Day of the Dead is one of the oldest and most emblematic traditions of Mexico before the world. Ancestral elements of the pre-Columbian peoples, Catholic religious aspects and a great variety of dances, music, gastronomy, typical costumes, myths and legends combine to give way to a festivity around death that gives us the opportunity to establish a bond with our deceased loved ones.
In Zacatecas, despite the fact that our original population density is not much compared to other entities, this celebration reinforces our identity, even beyond national borders.
This year, in Fort Worth, Texas, the clubs integrated in the DFW Zacatecan Communities organization celebrated the First Day of the Dead Parade, which, in addition to preserving, helps promote Mexican culture in the American Union, where there is a large population Latina, but also a lot of ignorance and discrimination towards Mexicanness.
The fact of having included young people from middle and high schools in this parade represents a significant effort to keep our traditions alive among the new generations.
In Zacatecas territory we also celebrate these dates with the IX Fray Joaquín Bolaños Day of the Dead Festival, which takes place from October 28 to November 5 in Zacatecas capital, Guadalupe, Noria de Ángeles and Susticacán, with different activities, such as concerts, plays and film projections on the occasion of the cult of death, the understanding of this natural process in living beings and the rescue of the meaning of the symbols associated with funeral rites.
This event receives its name in honor of Fray Joaquín Bolaños for having published in New Spain times the book entitled La portentosa vida de la muerte, which was censored.
These types of activities not only help us to restore our social fabric, they also allow us to continue reactivating our economy as the National Vaccination Program advances and the latency of active cases of COVID-19 in our entity is reduced.
Tourism is one of the sectors that was hit the hardest by the confinement measures, so taking advantage of our religious attractions is essential. Let us remember that, for example, the Santo Niño de Atocha sanctuary, located in Plateros, is the third most visited tourist-religious destination in the country.
Do not forget to consult the general program of the Day of the Dead festival Fray Joaquín Bolaños that will end until November 5, as well as the activities of the Morbito fantastic children’s film festival, which will last until December and will screen different classification films A, whose central theme is Mexican myths and legends.
The survival of traditions such as the Day of the Dead depends on our interest in knowing and disseminating our cultural diversity.
BY DAVID MONREAL
GOVERNOR OF ZACATECAS
@DAVIDMONREALA
CAR
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