The following post is in partnership with the Mexico Tourism Board. As always, all opinions are my own.
Coming to Mexico City for the season of Día de Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, is a pretty magical experience. Traditionally, Day of the Dead is associated with the dates of October 31 through November 2, but there are lots of events and things to do in Mexico City in the days leading up to it as well. For example, you can try a cooking class to learn how to make pan de muerto, or you can visit Casa Azul, the home of Frida Kahlo, to see the detailed ofrenda they put out for her. And you’ll find beautiful marigolds, also called cempazuchitl flowers, everywhere you go in the city.
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Día de Muertos is a wonderful Mexican celebration of life and death originating from Aztec traditions, and being able to join in their culture for this special time of year is truly an honor. If you have the chance to visit Mexico for Day of the Dead season, do it! Below are just a few activities you can do in Mexico City while visiting during Day of the Dead.
See the Mexico City Day of the Dead Parade
Mexico City didn’t have its own Day of the Dead parade until 2016 after the James Bond film Spectre was released. The city decided to hold its own parade as an innovative way to share Mexico’s traditions with visiting tourists and the world. The parade starts at the Estela de Luz and finishes at the historic Zócalo. With the help of over 1,500 volunteers, the city is transformed to a beautiful celebration for the 1.8 million attendees. The Day of the Dead parade is a truly unique celebration of Mexican culture!
Learn How To Make Pan de Muerto
Pan de Muerto, aka Bread of the Dead, is a sweet bread that is places on the altars, known as ofrendas, as an offering to the souls of the deceased. It’s also delicious! During our time in Mexico City, we did a cooking class at Casa Jacaranda to learn how to make pan de muerto. Before the class, we were taken on a walking tour of the nearby Colonia Roma’s Medellín Market, before heading to Casa Jacaranda for cooking lessons followed by lunch in their rooftop garden.
Visit Frida Kahlo’s House
A visit to Museo Frida Kahlo Casa Azul is a must no matter when you come to Mexico City, but if you happen to be there in late October/early November, you’ll be treated to the sight of marigolds throughout the courtyard and a beautiful ofrenda in Frida’s honor. If you want to take pictures inside the museum, make sure you also pay extra for a photo pass.
Go to the Zócalo
The Zócalo is considered the main square of Mexico City, and for Day of the Dead they decorate it with traditional shrines, art, and altars. At night, it gets pretty busy here, as locals and tourists alike crowd around, some even coming in traditional costumes.
To learn more about visiting Mexico for Day of the Day, check out the Visit Mexico website.
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