How we experienced the Day of the Dead at Hotel Xcaret México

Activities for Guests at the Festival of Life and Death Traditions

At the 17th Festival of Life and Death Traditions, we had the opportunity to delve deeper into the traditions and customs of the State of Querétaro.

Querétaro Apparel Exhibition

We began our visit with the apparel exhibition, where Maestra Aurora Zúñiga Sánchez, who hails from the municipality of Peñamiller and has been dedicated to researching Queretan popular culture for over 50 years, showcased a collection of clothing from the State of Querétaro.

The collection presented at the hotel is a testament to her work with 18 municipalities in Querétaro that entrusted her with original textiles. These textiles reflect life in the early to mid-20th century.

In the exhibition, you can observe various techniques and materials, such as cotton, brocades, blankets, wool, and garments made entirely by hand and artisanal. These garments showcase different types of embroidery, including cross-stitch, labor, basting, crochet, and needle-knot netting. These techniques have managed to survive through the ages.

Day of the Dead Altar 

The hotel's lobby features the main altar, inspired by the tradition of the chimales, an offering from the Otomí-Chichimeca tradition in honor of San Miguel Arcángel. UNESCO declared the celebration and the region of San Miguel Tolimán, where it takes place, as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009 under the title of 'Places of Memory and Living Traditions of the Otomí-Chichimecas of Tolimán: Peña de Bernal, Guardian of a Sacred Territory.'

The Catrinas

One of the distinctive features of the Festival is the visit of La Catrina to the hotel. This year, in commemoration of the State of Querétaro and its culture, we were visited by La Catrina Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez and La Catrina de las Cavas de Freixenet in honor of one of the country's most important wine-producing regions.

Regional Querétaro Cuisine

Gastronomy played a significant role in the Festival. In restaurants like Mercado de la Merced, guests savored traditional dishes. They met the Traditional Cooks of Querétaro, who continue to bring these dishes to life, passing them down through several generations. Additionally, invited Queretan chefs held special dinners at Restaurant Há and Cantina de los Faroles.

Wines and Cheeses 

Guests could taste the renowned cheeses and wines from the State of Querétaro. They sampled sheep, cow, and goat cheeses, as well as various types of wines, such as sparkling red, white, and rosé, present at the Mercado dinners.

Cultural Day of the Dead Activities

Part of the Day of the Dead celebration includes songs that remind us of our departed loved ones. On this occasion, various groups performed traditional Day of the Dead songs, such as 'La Bruja,' 'La Sandunga,' and many others in different areas of the hotel.  The Estudiantina of the Autonomous University of Querétaro, which has been performing in plazas and hallways of this beautiful state for over 57 years, shared their music and joy with our guests this year.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming the Querétaro Parade, which showcased some of its regional dances from the lobby to the infinity pool. 

Last but not least, we organized a couple of special workshops to create a unique experience for our guests. They could take home a souvenir they crafted themselves to commemorate their visit. We held a workshop on painting Lele dolls, traditional to the State of Querétaro, and a chocolate workshop. Families could share, enjoy, and learn more about Querétaro and its folklore in these workshops.