The delegate for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Marta Rivera de la Cruz, presented the initiative this morning, accompanied by the general director of the Casa de México Foundation in Spain, Ximena Caraza. Three of the altars, created in collaboration with the Casa de México Foundation, will be accessible until November 2nd, while the one at the Fernán Gómez Theater will remain until November 8th.
The Day of the Dead, recognized by Unesco in 2003 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is an ancestral Mexican tradition that honors the temporary return of deceased loved ones, blending pre-Hispanic and Western roots. It is celebrated on November 2nd, transforming grief into joy and remembrance into celebration.
The altar in the greenhouse of the Arganzuela Crystal Palace, designed by Señoritos Creativos, is dedicated to illustrious Spanish botanists and inspired by the Mesoamerican conception of the universe, featuring a composition of flowers and papel picado.
Within the Cat Mountain in Retiro Park, the altar, designed by Fer Feres, uses flowers, earth, and clay to create an offering that symbolically leads to Mictlán, the underworld of our ancestors.
The altar located in the Operations Courtyard of CentroCentro, created by Guillermo González, is characterized by its white and silver tones, symbolizing purity, peace, and the enduring bond beyond time and distance.
The altar at the Fernán Gómez Theater, a self-produced work with artistic design by Antiquísima, offers a poetic encounter between the Mexican Day of the Dead tradition and the memory of the Generation of '27 and Las Sinsombrero. This venue will also host free educational workshops with prior registration.
Additionally, the Casa de México features an altar inspired by the mountains of Michoacán, dedicated to the singer and composer Agustín Lara, which can be viewed until November 8th.
