Quintana Roo’s Festivities: Celebrating Cultural Heritage at Xcaret Park

Quintana Roo, a state rich in cultural heritage, showcased its Janal Pixan traditions at the 18th edition of the Festival of Traditions of Life and Death at Xcaret Park. The festival was part of the state's 50th-anniversary celebrations.

Visitors to the festival were treated to the living tradition of Janal Pixan, a customary Mayan practice of setting up a food altar for the spirits. The celebrations began in the state capital, Chetumal, with the traditional "Paseo de las Ánimas" or Parade of the Spirits. The parade was led by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa and was attended by hundreds of residents, creating an atmosphere of joy, color, and solemnity for the Day of the Dead.

The Art Schools and Cultural Houses of Chetumal and Calderitas, which are part of the Institute of Culture and the Arts (ICA), participated in the festivities. They showcased the state's cultural diversity through a range of traditional dances and modern neoclassical performances.

The festival also featured an exhibition of altars representative of the states of the Mexican Republic, along with a tasting of typical foods. The event was an opportunity for communal bonding and honoring the deceased with offerings and rituals that underscore the cyclical nature of life and death.

The festival was inaugurated with a Mayan Ceremony led by Mayan dignitaries, reminding attendees of the sacred connection between humanity and nature. This was followed by the ribbon cutting and a tour of the Henequen Hacienda.

Lilian Villanueva Chan, the general director of the Institute of Culture and the Arts of Quintana Roo, expressed her gratitude for the honor of being the guest state at the festival. She also expressed pride in the state's commitment to promoting platforms for artists and tradition bearers to share their legacy and receive recognition.

The festival also provided an economic boost for the indigenous people, with opportunities for selling their crafts. Among the participants were master artisans from X-Pichil and Filomeno Mata, and a honey producer from the X-Cabil community.

The festival, which attracts thousands of people from around the world each year, reaffirms the preservation of the Mexican Day of the Dead festivity. This tradition was proclaimed a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 2003.

Quintana Roo's participation in the festival highlighted its valuable legacy and traditions, deeply rooted in indigenous worldview. The state communities view this date as a time of family unity, evoking memories and heartfelt offerings. The festival allowed visitors to experience the living tradition of the Janal Pixan with a traditional altar.