By Zoila Palma: Mexico began its Day of the Dead festivities on Sunday, October 25, with a La Catrina parade celebrating one of the country’s most recognizable cultural symbols.
The elegant female skeleton, often depicted wearing elaborate dresses, flower crowns, and wide-brimmed hats, has become a prominent figure in celebrations honoring deceased loved ones.
La Catrina’s origins date back to Mexican illustrator and engraver José Guadalupe Posada, who created a satirical skeleton figure known as La Calavera Garbancera in the early 1900s. The image criticized people who rejected their Indigenous roots while imitating European fashions and lifestyles.
Decades later, renowned Mexican muralist Diego Rivera popularized the figure in his 1947 mural Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central Park and gave her the name La Catrina.
Today, La Catrina is closely associated with Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition dedicated to remembering and honoring people who have died.
The observance commonly includes family altars featuring photographs, candles, marigolds, favorite foods, and other offerings intended to celebrate the lives and memories of loved ones.
Although skeletal imagery is also associated with Halloween, Day of the Dead has its own distinct cultural and spiritual significance.
Beyond her striking appearance, La Catrina represents the idea that death makes everyone equal, regardless of wealth or social status.
Her presence during the festivities blends humor, artistic expression, and remembrance, reflecting a cultural tradition that acknowledges grief while celebrating life and the enduring connections between families and those they have lost.
The post International News: Mexico kicks off Day of the Dead celebrations with spectacular La Catrina parade appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.