Hanal Pixán Traditions Fade in Rural Communities of José María Morelos

José María Morelos, Quintana Roo — The Hanal Pixán traditions that honor the dead are losing ground in some rural communities of José María Morelos, where changing religious affiliations may be weakening long-held customs, according to a local resident.

Edilberto Medina Ortegón, who lives in Candelaria and knows the communities along the Candelaria-Puerto Arturo route, said the practices are no longer kept with the same strength in some areas, while elsewhere they remain deeply rooted.

“In this area, the custom seems to be fading,” he said of the decline.

Medina Ortegón suggested that the arrival of new religions could be one of the factors behind the shift, noting that some traditional practices are no longer carried out as they once were.

Still, he said families who keep this cultural inheritance alive find ways to celebrate their deceased loved ones, even when money is tight.

“People who have always kept these customs always find a way to celebrate,” he said.

He contrasted that picture with the Sabán route, where he believes the traditions remain more firmly established. The split reflects the broader changes Maya communities are navigating as they work to preserve a celebration dedicated to remembering their loved ones who have died.