Isla Mujeres, Mexico — As part of the celebrations for the 175th anniversary of the founding of Isla Mujeres, Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde led a traditional maritime procession and floral offering at the Bay Cross on Saturday. The ceremony symbolized the faith, unity, and memory of the island community.
A Tribute to Maritime Heritage
Boats departed from the Wooden Fiscal Pier, accompanied by authorities, families, and members of the nautical community, sailing together to the site of the Bay Cross. A mass was held there, officiated by Isla Mujeres parish priest Rafael González Guzmán, in honor of those lost at sea. Following the service, a floral offering was placed as a sign of respect and remembrance.
Mayor Gómez emphasized the special significance of this year’s ceremony, coinciding not only with the town’s founding celebrations but also with the 31st anniversary of the immersion of the Bay Cross on August 17. The cross was originally placed by researcher and oceanographer Ramón Bravo Prieto with support from the Nautical Association of Isla Mujeres and Cancún.
“This tradition strengthens our island identity, reminds us of those no longer with us, and reinforces the bond that unites us as a community that lives, loves, and respects the sea,” Gómez stated.
The Bay Cross has become both a symbol of solidarity and remembrance and a cultural attraction that distinguishes Isla Mujeres as a Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town).
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