Cozumel’s Day of the Dead Festival: Tradition & Light

Cozumel, Mexico — Amid music, aromas, and colors evoking life and memory, the Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel (FPMC) successfully inaugurated the "Day of the Dead: Tradition, Light, and Reencounter" festival, a celebration honoring Mexico's cultural roots that featured the state of Oaxaca as its special guest.

The event, held in front of the Museum of the Island, became a gathering point for Cozumel families and visitors who enjoyed an evening filled with art, dance, gastronomy, and spirituality in an atmosphere illuminated by the essence of local traditions.

Inaugural Ceremony and Highlights

The proceedings began with the emotional representation of the "Arrival of the Souls" by the group Canoa Maya Cozumel, marking the symbolic start of the festival's spiritual journey.

During the inaugural ceremony, the FPMC's General Director, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, was accompanied by the General Director of the Quintana Roo Institute of Culture and the Arts, Lilián Villanueva Chan; Deputy Wilberth Alberto Batún Chulim; Councilwoman Raquel Paredes, representing the municipal president; and Flor de Liz Aquino Hernández, state liaison for the Oaxaca delegation.

In her address, Juanita Alonso Marrufo emphasized that the festival is an opportunity to strengthen the social fabric, promote cultural identity, and keep alive the customs that give people a sense of community. She also presented a recognition to the Oaxacan delegation and thanked the artists and collectives who participated in the exhibitions and murals dedicated to this significant date, especially those inspired by alebrijes, a symbol of Mexican imagination and color.

Performances and Exhibitions

One of the most acclaimed moments of the evening was the performance by the Charros and Chinas Oaxaqueñas "Nitos Oaxaqueños" and the "Encanto Serrano" orchestra, which filled the stage with energy, folklore, and joy through traditional dances that transported the audience to the heart of Oaxaca, evoking its festive spirit and profound devotion to honoring those who have passed away.

The public also enjoyed the collective exhibition "Alebrijes in Day of the Dead," a fusion of contemporary art and ancestral traditions, as well as the commemorative murals "The Fantastic Mexican Tradition," created by Verónica Ochoa, Carla Pacheco, and Lucio Frías, and the work "The Visit," created by students from the UQROO and the Parthenon Institute.

Commitment to Community and Tradition

"Through this festival we celebrate life, memory, and our roots, in a space where art, education, and tradition come together. With actions like this, we reaffirm the Foundation's commitment to the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, to build a more supportive, inclusive state with shared well-being," expressed Juanita Alonso Marrufo.

Attendees also toured the altar dedicated to artist Francisco Benjamín López Toledo, the Hanal Pixán (Food of the Souls) altar installed in the Mayan house, and enjoyed every corner of the venue adorned with art, flowers, alebrijes, and tradition.

The night concluded with the traditional "Cana al Aire," a popular dance that united locals and visitors in a celebration full of identity, joy, and community. With this event, the FPMC reaffirms its mission to be a cultural beacon that fosters a love for Mexican traditions, strengthens pride in local roots, and promotes art as a unifying bond between generations.