The best moments of the Life and Death Traditions Festival 2024

The best moments of the Life and Death Traditions Festival 2024

November is the time of the most awaited Mexican tradition of the year: The Day of the Dead and as every year at Xcaret we are excited to celebrate it with the Festival of Life and Death Traditions.

This year 2024 took place from October 30 to November 3 with the guest state of Quintana Roo, which gave us many magical and memorable moments.

From the incredible gastronomic samples, the artistic presentations honoring our traditions, the impressive altars, the best costumes full of color and symbolism, and the great gala concert.

Ix Maa Uayec, the gatekeeper of the underworld

This mythical character of the Mayan culture marked the beginning of the festival, symbolizing the guardian of the cemeteries and the protector of the spirits of the dead. 

Her name, “she who has no rest”, reflects her role as eternal guardian of the sacred places, where she maintains a special link between the world of the living and that of the dead. 

According to Mayan beliefs, Ix Maa Uayec cares for the cemeteries and ensures that the souls pass in peace and dignity. 

Gastronomic Zone

This area is always one of my favorite parts of the festival, being able to taste the typical food of the guest state and enjoy the mix of flavors and smells.

This year Quintana Roo brought us delicacies such as Cochinita pibil, Mucbipollo, panuchos, salbutes, and tamales.

In addition, you could find the Xcaret stands, to buy hot chocolate, a variety of food, and pan de muerto.

Embroiderers and artisans of Xcaret

The local talent was evident with the craftsmen and craftswomen who were on display and made us fall in love with the variety of handicrafts.

For me, artisans are the heart that keeps Mexican traditions alive, each piece is a unique work that reflects techniques passed down from generation to generation.

At the festival, we were able to see their work up close, learn about their creative process, talk with them, and take some of their creations home with us.

I took this beautiful basket as a souvenir.

Altar Zone

One of the most important parts of the Day of the Dead celebration is the altars.

The creation of these altars is not only a ritual of remembrance but also a celebration of life and to remember that our loved ones will always remain alive in our memory.

The altar area at the festival was made up of traditional Mayan altars, those of our guests, and those of the Xcaret parks.

One of the most beautiful parts of touring this area was to talk with the representatives of each of the altars and have them tell us their meaning.

The visitors

As every year our festival visitors stood out for their creative outfits to celebrate together with us, many accompanied us dressed as catrinas and catrines and detailed makeup mimicking skulls and costumes full of flowers, lace, and vibrant details. 

Others opted for traditional attire, with embroidered dresses and traditional costumes. 

Each visitor, with his or her costume, became part of the celebration, adding to the magical atmosphere of the festival. 

And if you weren't dressed up, you probably did it when you arrived at the park, since there were several stands with makeup so you could get creative and makeup

Silvana Estrada

One of the performances that touched our hearts the most was that of Silvana Estrada, who visited us from Veracruz to make us sing along to the rhythm of her songs.

Known for her unique style that fuses folk, pop, and traditional Latin American music, she stands out for her ability to play the piano and guitar.

Throughout her career, she has collaborated with several prominent artists and participated in music festivals, establishing herself as a prominent div in the contemporary music scene.

Silvana was present on October 30 and 31.

Here's a playlist of her so you can fall in love with her voice like we did: This is Silvana Estrada

Dance, theater, and music

From start to finish, the Festival was full of music, dance, and theater performances, from the moment we arrived at the park, bands welcomed us with live music, creating an atmosphere full of excitement and anticipation that made us feel part of a great celebration.

Throughout the day, at different times, you could find more music performances that filled the atmosphere with energy, perfect to get us to dance and enjoy with our loved ones.

The guest state, Quintana Roo, gave us unforgettable moments with their dance performances. 

The dancers, with their energy, shone on stage and many of us were moved to our feet. 

It was a show that left us with a feeling of pride and gratitude, reminding us of the cultural richness of Mexico and the importance of keeping these traditions alive.

Gala Concert

This year we celebrated November 2nd with Reik, who were in charge of closing the night with their gala concert at the Gran Tlachco; the successful Mexican pop band offered a performance full of emotion and energy.

If you want to relive with us each of the days of the festival we recommend the series of videos we made of the festival in Tik Tok, divided into each of the days and with specific themes:

The Day of the Dead is a beautiful tradition in Mexican culture, as it honors our deceased loved ones and preserves our identity. 

Thank you for joining us this year in this celebration full of color and symbolism that invites us to value the present and strengthen our ties with those who are no longer with us, transmitting a unique and positive vision of life and death.

See you next year!