Ghoulish spectacle
Day of the Dead parade remembers lost lives and celebrates rescuers
The Day of the Dead parade making its way down Mexico City’s main thoroughfare to commemorate the traditional celebration. This year though, as the country mourns nearly 500 people killed in earthquakes last month, the fanfare also serves to honour the rescuers who worked tirelessly in the wake of the tragedy.
MEXICO CITY: A raised fist made of helmets, pickaxes and broken rubble rolled ahead of hundreds of walking skeletons, costumed dancers and flowery floats in Mexico City’s Day of the Dead parade, which this year honoured the 228 capital residents killed by a Sept 19 quake.
“Thank you, rescuers!” belted out Guadalupe Perez, 56, as she passed the sculpture, which was followed by contingents of men, women and dogs who had searched for survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings on Saturday. The parade also honoured them.
Mexico City’s central Zocalo plaza was filled by the papier mache dead, skeletal Catrina figures and can- dle-covered shrines where people were invited to place photographs of those killed in two recent earthquakes, which together left more than 400 dead across the country.
A raised fist was the signal the rescuers gave for silence to hear if anyone was trapped under the rubble left by the most recent quake.
It “has become a national and international symbol”, parade coordinator Julio Blasina said.
“We had an obligation to pay tribute to the fallen, while transmitting the message that the city is still standing,” Blasina said.
This year’s parade featured a kilometer-and-a-half of floats honouring the celebration, which is an amalgam of pre-Hispanic and other traditions. White, orange, purple and black paper cut-outs covered part of the Zocalo. Beneath them were papier mache skeletons with rescue vests and helmets, symbolising volunteers from the regions affected by the earthquakes, including Oaxaca, Chiapas, Morelos, Puebla and Guerrero. Other skeletons represented victims.
“We must not forget that the country is in mourning because there are many who do not have a home,” said Guadalupe Perez, whose apartment was badly damaged in a quake.
“But this is a beautiful party, unique in the world.”
Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones bringing them music, drink and conversation. On the Nov 1-2 holiday, Mexicans set up altars with photographs of the dead and plates of their favourite foods in their homes.
“All our roots are reflected here,” said Leo Cancino, who took his family to see Saturday’s parade.
“Many are afraid of death but no, it’s part of life.” — AP