The Festival of Life and Death Traditions 2024 is a celebration of the Day of the Dead, an event recognized as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
As the Day of the Dead tradition approaches, the Xcaret group has unveiled its program of activities for 2024. This festival, now in its 18th year, is designed to honor the souls who return from the afterlife to visit their loved ones. The event is hosted in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, a region renowned for its rich traditions, particularly its Day of the Dead celebrations.
The festival will feature artisans, traditional food cooks, and a multitude of artists from the region. The program includes plays, dance performances, concerts, and an All Saints' Day Mass. Additionally, there will be workshops, exhibitions, and an Interactive Hacienda, where both children and adults can learn about and enjoy the many traditions associated with the Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead, also known as Hanal Pixán in the Yucatan Peninsula, has been celebrated for 18 years. This event is dedicated to preserving and showcasing Mexican traditions and those of its indigenous peoples. While the main venue for the Festival of Life and Death Traditions 2024 will be Xcaret Park in Playa del Carmen, activities will also take place at Xcaret Arte, Xcaret México, and La Casa de la Playa hotels, as well as the City Theater and the Villas del Sol Dome in Playa del Carmen.
The festival's programming includes dance, traditional music, multidisciplinary and street theater, puppet shows, tours, photographic exhibitions, pre-Hispanic rituals, and a representation of the Maya ball game. The event will be beautifully decorated with Day of the Dead altars, and up to 65 shows will be presented daily across 16 simultaneous forums. In total, the festival will feature more than 500 artists.
Highlights of the festival include performances by the IT Folkloric Ballet from Chetumal, the cowgirls from Xhazil, Apolonio Mondragón, Susana Alexander, Yliana and Primital Bros from Spain, the Mexican band Reik, and the composer Silvana Estrada. There will also be exclusive spaces for children, featuring music from Mayab, offerings and cardboard tomb building, storytelling, and archaeological experiences with members of the INAH. Additionally, an artisanal, gastronomic, and agro-industrial exhibition will be set up, featuring 22 sales stands, six traditional cooks, and a wide variety of local products.
For more details about the festival, visit the official Xcaret website.
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