The most memorable cemeteries to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico
The Day of the Dead (or Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is one of the most important traditional holidays in Mexico. It celebrates the cycle of life by remembering those who are no longer with us. Its significance is recognized far beyond Mexico's borders - since 2003, the holiday has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This holiday, which combines indigenous and Roman Catholic traditions, is based on the belief that on the first two days of November, people who have passed away return to the world of the living. In honor of this, Mexican communities fill this time of year with celebrations and activities for both themselves and their departed loved ones. Beginning in late October, many families set up ofrendas (offerings) in their homes to pay tribute to relatives who have passed away. These altars, filled with flowers, candles and food, are also set up in public places such as museums and schools.
Visiting cemeteries and organizing orendas in them is a particularly common occurrence during the celebration of the Day of the Holy Martyrs. For many, this simply means going to the burial sites of their deceased relatives to play music for their loved ones and decorate their graves and headstones with pierced paper ( papel picado ), colorful flowers, food and photos. Others prefer to make pilgrimages to the cemeteries where the largest and most popular Day of the Dead celebrations are held. These pilgrims usually arrive at the cemeteries on November 1 (All Saints' Day) and leave on November 2 - All Souls' Day, the official Day of the Dead.
On these two days, Mexican cemeteries are visited by thousands of people. These places are flooded with light and color and have a unique essence full of life, celebration and energy. If you want to join in on this tradition, here are some of Mexico's most famous cemeteries, broken down by location. A visit to any of them will help you truly enjoy the Día de los Muertos celebration.
Pátzcuaro, Michoacán.
The region of Patzcuaro in the southwestern state of Michoacán is one of the most visited places on the Day of the Dead. Any cemetery in the town of Patzcuaro or neighboring villages is a sight worth seeing, with elaborate altars and graves studded with Mexico's iconic yellow marigolds. After visiting one (or more) of the local cement houses , people head to the shores of Lake Patzcuaro, from where several boats sail to Yanitzio Island to honor their ancestors in what is known as the "fisherman's dance." The lake is transformed into a marvelous scene, completely flooded with the light of countless candles pointing the way for the boats. Every year, the island hosts a folk celebration with traditional dances, music and food.
Mexico City
The capital is home to two of the country's most visited cemeteries: the Pantheon San Andrés-Mixic and the Pantheon de Dolores.
Located south of the city, the San Andrés-Mixic Cemetery (formerly a monastery) has become a must-see for locals and travelers alike. Impressive tiered altars are set up along the graves on October 31, but the place doesn't truly come alive until November 2. On that night, thousands of people participate in a candlelit procession through the flower-strewn tombs called "la Alumbrada" (the illumination). The idea behind this event is that the living light the way for the dead to return for the night and enjoy all that has been prepared for them.
Another cemetery that thousands of people visit every year is the Dolores Civil Cemetery (Panteón Civil de Dolores), mainly because many famous people are buried here. It is the largest cemetery in Mexico and has 700,000 graves, including the graves of artist Diego Rivera, singer Agustin Lara, actress Dolores Del Rio and muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Mexico City is home to some of the most significant burial grounds in the country, and even those that aren't as famous as Mixkick and Dolores are worth a visit. The Spanish Pantheon has been around for over 100 years and is the resting place of Cantinflas, one of the most revered actors in Mexican cinema. The Pantheon Jardín contains the graves of famous singer Jorge Negrete, famous actor Tin-Tang, and musician and actor Pedro Infante. Although there are many visitors in November, tourism peaks on April 15, when mariachis come to Infante's tomb on the anniversary of his death.
Aguascalientes
This city in central Mexico is one of the most festive in the country. It celebrates the Day of the Dead with the Festival de las Calaveras (Festival of Skeletons) in honor of José Guadalupe Posada, the Aguascalientes artist who created La Catrina, a skeleton in a dress and hat that has become the national emblem of the Day of the Dead. While you can't visit Posada's resting place - he is believed to be buried in an unmarked grave in Mexico City - you can and should visit the neighboring Los Angeles and La Cruz cemeteries. They are centrally located right along the parade route of the Festival of Skeletons, making them a suitable place not only for the elaborate orendas , but also for the dancing, music, performances and culinary events that are part of the festival's program. If you really want to get into the spirit of the festival, do like the locals and dress up in your best La Katrina costume.
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Pantheon de Belén, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country, is located in Guadalajara. Although the cemetery only operated from 1848 to 1896, today it is open as a museum showcasing the rich funerary architecture of the region. During the Day of the Dead, visitors specifically come for nighttime tours of the museum, where they can see tombs decorated with floral arrangements and candles that give the night a mystical mood.