Día de Los Muertos – Life and Death in the Mexican Caribbean

I love this time of year; it’s that island between the hot, heady days of summer, and the emotion and activity of the holiday season. Here in Mexico, fall is in full swing, hurricane season is nearly over and Día del los Muertos or Day of the Dead is almost upon us again. Working on the editorial team has given me a much wider and deeper perspective of this significant time of the year in Mexico. It’s much more than just Mexican Halloween which is how I previously interpreted it. It’s a wonderful mix of spirituality – both religious and pagan – culture, tradition and love for family and friends. And aren’t they just the things that endear this country to us all year round?

While in the U.S. and Europe we’re dressing up as witches and trick or treating without much real thought about what’s behind it all, Mexicans are coming together, creating altars, preparing offerings and sharing tasty food and fond memories of those no longer with us.

And so we’re joining the festivities in this edition. If you want to learn more about the history and significance of the Day of the Dead, we’ve covered it. If you want to know where to go and what to do to celebrate the occasion, look no further. If you want to stay at home and prepare a traditional Mexican dish to share with loved ones, we’ve taken care of that too. And if Dia de los Muertos really isn’t your thing, well, fear not. There’s always something to on the Riviera Maya. It’s still October and beer festivals have been another theme of the month – Andrés covered one in Cancun on page 15. Or if coffee is more your, em, cup of tea, read about Bendito’s first coffee tasting that I attended last Saturday. Another great way to learn about a strong Mexican tradition.

Finally, if you want some fresh air, don’t forget the Playa Times Mini Fun Run takes place on Saturday 21 October. The run is for children, but I guarantee that the adults will have just as good a time. Admission is free and it takes place at Mario Villanueva stadium at 6 p.m. See you there!