The 11th Festival of Life Death Traditions of Xcaret, to be held from October 30th to November 2nd in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, will have as a special guest the state of Puebla, according to the festival’s Managing Director, Leticia Aguerrebere Salido, when introducing the official activities of this celebration.
Puebla will be present with its most representative party, Atlixcáyotl, a cultural festival of music and dance of the city of Atlixco and influenced by other geographical regions of the State. Atlixcáyotl usually takes place the last Sunday of September on the hill of San Miguel, where the Netotiloyan is, an ancient ceremonial center whose name in Nahuatl means “hill of the dance”. The guest state will also display a monumental altar from Puebla City, designed by the maestro Rodolfo Villena Hernández, first place winner of the “Grand Prix of Folk Art”.
Among personalities who will participate in the festival is the singer Lila Downs, who will present her concert “Bullets and Chocolate”, based on new recorded material, where she sings in the name of hope and a better future for all.
Don Ignacio López Tarso will also be on stage with his work “Among Tombs, Living and Dead”, accompanied by Norteño musicians Los de García, directed by Maestro Manuel Cervantes and led by the female voice of Sofía Montaño.
In addition to traditional cooks actively participating, the Mayan zone of Quintana Roo will be present with rituals, ceremonies, community theater, regional dances and music, dedicated to the faithful departed.
Also present will be the children’s pavilion “Angels, Cherubs and Crowns”, through which workshops and fun dynamics invite children and young people to get to know the prevailing customs surrounding the days of the dead, particularly of the colonial era in the history of Mexico.
As a contribution of the festival to the community of Playa del Carmen, from November 3rd to 6th theater and folk dance will be presented at the City Theater, starting at 20:00 h. The works are “Deadly Cabaret, a Spectacle Without End”, “Salma and Cau’s Pixán”, “The Legend of Nicteha”, and “Mexico in Lilac”.
The detailed program of the festival can be found on the website: www.festivaldevidaymuerte.com