Through a press release, municipal and state authorities of the State of Querétaro reported that, under a theme that encompasses the indigenous worldview of “Road to Mictlan“, there will be a series of decorations and activations in the main streets and walkways of the Historic Center, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Day of the Dead in Querétaro; in addition to holding a parallel cultural exhibition in Madrid, Spain.
The Mictlan on the Day of the Dead in Querétaro
The Secretary of Tourism of Querétaro, Adriana Vega Vázquez Mellado, announced that the holiday bridge on the occasion of these festivities represents one of the most important for tourism in the entity, for which the arrival of more than 89 thousand tourists is expected between the 28th of October and November 2; same that generate an average hotel occupancy of between 55 and 60 percent. An economic benefit of more than 391 million pesos is expected for the Day of the Dead in Querétaro.
He explained that the decorations that will be installed in the Historic Center this year, will remain from October 27 to November 2, and will be inspired by “El Camino al Mictlan”. This myth arises from the pre-Hispanic worldview where the idea of the direction taken by the souls of deceased people towards Mictlán was had; the place of eternal rest. According to beliefs, the souls had to go through nine levels, in a purification process.
This concept will have this year’s Festival. Walkers will be able to discover and understand each of these nine levels. The tour will culminate in the Plaza de Armas, where as every year, a monumental offering whose design is inspired by the traditional elements of the offerings arising from miscegenation will be placed.
Adriana Vega Vázquez Mellado stood out.
The monumental altar located in the Plaza de Armas will have motifs from the Otomí-Chichimeca tradition. It will measure eight meters high by 10 meters wide.
Other decorations will be installed in the 5 de Mayo walkway, forming a large tourist corridor that will join Madero street and the Guerrero Garden; space that will be intervened by the municipal government, under the same theme.
Cultural events
In the same way, there will be presentations of the “Aztlan Group“, on October 27 at 7:30 p.m., on October 29 and 30 at 12:00 p.m.; and on October 31, November 1 and 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Plaza de Armas.
Additionally, together with the Ministry of Culture, Querétaro will participate in the installation of the Monumental Offering of the Dead in the Zócalo of Mexico City, with a five by five meter altar, where a traditional offering and an evocation of Mictlán will be placed. It will be mounted from October 28 to November 2.
The Day of the Dead in Querétaro will have representation in Spain
Adriana Vega reported that parallel to all these activities in the Historic Center, Querétaro will hold a cultural exhibition on the occasion of the Day of the Dead in Madrid, Spain.
This exhibition will be in force throughout November at the Museum of the Americas in Madrid, where together with a delegation made up of chefs from Queretaro, artisans and winegrowers, an altar of the dead will be set up especially dedicated to Conín, and will also evoke the “Road to Mictlán”.
In addition, through a photographic exhibition, each of the nine levels of Mictlán will be shown and explained, and workshops, conferences and tastings of traditional Queretaro cuisine will be offered.