Leona Vicario’s Heartfelt Tribute: Janal Pixán Festival 2024

Leona Vicario, a town in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, celebrated Janal Pixán on October 31st. This celebration is a heartfelt tribute to those who have passed away, filled with love and memories. The mayor, Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz, spoke at the "Offering of Light and Love Janal Pixán 2024" festival, highlighting the importance of preserving traditions and honoring the memory of loved ones.

Janal Pixán, which translates to "food of the souls," is a feast prepared with love for those who are no longer physically present. The mayor emphasized that during this time, the boundary between the living and the deceased disappears, allowing a sense of hope for the return of the departed, if only for a night. She also mentioned the Mayan belief of time being a cycle, and the earth being part of a vast universe composed of 13 heavens and 9 lower worlds.

This universe, according to Mayan wisdom, is home to both humans and spirits, or 'pixanes'. The 'pixanes' are the soul of each individual, a divine gift that spends time in this world before embarking on a spiritual journey to the underworld. The mayor encouraged everyone to celebrate this festival filled with love, history, and tradition, and to pass on these cultural values to future generations.

The festival began with a procession of about thirty souls departing from the old cemetery, guided by candlelight and accompanied by brass band music. They traveled along the federal highway to the park, where they joined the participants of the “Offering of Light and Love” Festival. The festival included altar contests, little skulls, catrinas and catrines, pre-Hispanic dances, jarana, and a performance by Sully Bárcenas, who beautifully performed La Llorona.

Winners of the altar contest were Concepción Ku Carrillo, Cecyte, and Cecyte, who presented "Sagrada Esencia", "Janal Pixán", and "A state from the north: Sinaloa" respectively. The catrinas and catrines contest was won by Angélica Paulina Batún Batún, Jacqueline Poot May, and Pedro Javier García in the first category, and Osiel Márquez García, Allison Jimena Velázquez Jiménez, and Cinthya Carmona in the second category. The literary skulls contest was won by Haidy Benítez García, Lluvia Ocosari, and Karen Abril Torruco Cruz.

The mayor was joined at the event by the municipality secretary, José de Jesús Espinosa Payán, and other municipality officials and staff.