Day of the Dead Festival Lights Up Cozumel

Cozumel, Mexico — The Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel (FPMC) concluded the "Day of the Dead: Tradition, Light, and Reunion" festival with a night filled with color, music, dance, and shared emotions. The event was held on the Malecón in front of the Island Museum, where Cozumel families and visitors celebrated life, identity, and the reconnection with the cultural roots that give meaning to one of Mexico's most representative festivities.

The public enjoyed a program that combined art, tradition, and sentiment. The evening began with the performance of the FPMC Choir, which performed an "Oaxacan Medley" filled with emotion and respect for the customs of the south of the country.

Following this, members of the Dance Workshop filled the stage with energy with the colorful and vibrant "Flor de Piña," evoking the strength of Oaxacan women and pride in national traditions.

One of the most anticipated moments of the night was the Catrina Characterization Contest, in which participants showed their creativity, talent, and love for Mexican culture by paying homage to the emblematic figure created by José Guadalupe Posada. Elegance, symbolism, and imagination brought to life catrinas inspired by the festive spirit of the Day of the Dead.

The jury, composed of the general director of the Institute of Culture and the Arts of Quintana Roo, Lilián Villanueva Chan; the director of art and culture of Grupo Xcaret, Leticia Aguerrebere; and the state liaison of the Oaxaca delegation, Flordelis Aquino Hernández, recognized the creativity and effort of the participants in the different categories.

In the children's category, first place went to Mariely Novelo; second place to Alinson Romina Canul Poot; and third place to Joani Nataly Córdova. Meanwhile, in the open category, first place was awarded to Miss Maxine, second place went to Stephanie Guadalupe Cohuo, and third place was for Nicole Hernández Zapata.

The stage was then transformed with the staging of "The Legend of Ixquic," presented by the Tzunum Academy, which captivated the audience with a performance laden with mysticism, dance, and drama, recalling the spiritual connection that unites the earthly world with that of the ancestors.

The closing of the festival was marked by the emotional "Farewell of the Souls," a symbolic act that recalled the importance of keeping alive the memory of those who preceded us, in an atmosphere of union, hope, and gratitude.

The general director of the FPMC, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, emphasized that this event strengthens the sense of community and preserves the cultural heritage of Mexico. "Through this festival we celebrate life, creativity, and the love for our roots. These actions are part of the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, promoting culture and art as engines of social transformation," she stated.

With the culmination of "Tradition, Light, and Reunion," the FPMC reaffirms its commitment to being a space that promotes education, culture, and the conservation of traditions, reaffirming Cozumel as a benchmark in the promotion of art, memory, and Mexican identity.