Visiting Mexico, Telling the World MexicoVisitor

  The plazas become very busy with supplies for decoration. Photo courtesy of Edward Ornellas Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos, is a festival celebrating the reunion of dead relatives with their families, November 1st and 2nd. Every year, on November 1st (All Saints Day) and 2nd (All Souls Day), something unique takes place in many areas of Mexico: Day of the Dead festivities. In Spanish, All Saints Day and All Souls Day are known as El Dia de Todos los Santos and El Dia de los Muertos, respectively. While it’s strange for most of us to accept the fact that “death” and “festivities” can go hand-in-hand, for most Mexicans, the two are intricately entwined. This all stems from the ancient indigenous peoples of Mexico (Purepecha, Nahua, Totonac and Otomi) who believed that the souls of the dead return each year to visit with their living relatives – to eat, drink and be merry. Just like they did when they ...

  Oaxaca, the mezcal hub of Mexico Santa Domingo Cathedral is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of 17th-century colonial architecture. Photo by Elijah-Lovkoff/Getty Images By Lydia Carey July 18, 2023 Travelers have long flocked to Oaxaca City for indigenous traditions, deliciously warm weather, and incredible cuisine. But these days, the city’s slow, leisurely pace belies a blossoming cultural evolution: This state capital marked by cobblestone streets and a lively central plaza is becoming an international hot spot thanks to its star export, mezcal. In case you’ve missed it, mezcal has exploded in popularity. Americans are spending record sums on the strong, smoky spirit. You’d be hard-pressed to find a trendy cocktail menu in the U.S. without a paloma or other me...