Day of the Dead at Teotihuacan

The town of Teotihuacan holds multiple rituals and ceremonies to commemorate Day of the Dead. They release butterflies, which are considered messengers of the underworld. They hold a massive candle lighting to light the souls’ way. There are funerary marches, Mesoamerican ballgame reenactments, the sky lights up with cantoya balloons—large paper globes propelled by fire, and a mega offering incorporates ancestral and contemporary elements.

One of the most popular events is the Cumbre de Catrinas, a parade that leaves from San Juan and makes its way toward the archeological site. Here, more than 5,000 elegantly dressed catrines and catrinas, with colorful details on their skull-painted faces, or dressed as skeletons in pre-Hispanic outfits, devils, and specters all come out.

On November 4th, there’s a videomapping demonstration, in which they project images on the pyramids complete with special effects and sound.