The celebration of Day of the Dead is lived in very different ways in every corner of the country; each one lives it from a connection with their traditions. The celebrations are adapted to the possibilities and context of the living, but one thing must be clear: Day of the Dead does not go unnoticed in most Mexican homes.
As has become tradition, for the past 4 years, Proyectos Públicos and Planta DB have opened the doors of the historic building at General Prim 30 to celebrate the Day of the Dead and to share the vibrant cultural richness of Mexico with an impressive altar of the dead and related activities.
Each year they have chosen a different state of the Republic to inspire and realize the altar, this year the special guest is Oaxaca, presenting an altar of the dead that is not only a visual display, but an immersive cultural experience that unites the past with the present in an act of homage to life and memory. Here, Oaxaca becomes a microcosm of everything we love about Mexico: the hospitality, the cultural heritage and the shared memory.
df
df
Oaxaca in the skin of the ofrenda
From October 31 through November 3, the Porfirian palace of General Prim is transformed into a portal to Oaxacan traditions, with each handcrafted piece, each element and each corner of the altar the result of meticulous research and collaboration with Oaxacan artisans and artists. In this ofrenda, the loom tapestries from Teotitlán del Valle stand out, a work of Samuel and his family, who employ hundreds of local artisans to keep alive a tradition that goes back five generations. You can also admire beeswax candles from Teotitlán and black clay from San Bartolo Coyotepec, elements that reflect a tradition rooted in the love for details and authenticity.
Mitla's yolk bread, decorated with the iconic fretwork patterns reminiscent of the region's pre-Hispanic vestiges, becomes one of the main elements of the offering, while mezcal and copal aromas purify the space, inviting visitors to reconnect with the mystical.
This altar is, in many ways, a contemporary reinterpretation of an ancestral tradition that connects us to our roots and reminds us of the importance of memory.
This celebration takes different forms in each of the eight regions of Oaxaca, where each community interprets it according to its particular link with traditions. However, despite the differences in the way of living this festivity, there are elements that remain constant in the creation of the altars: shared symbols that represent the common essence of this great celebration, transmitted from generation to generation.
- Water: perhaps the most basic and indispensable offering. It quenches the
thirst of the spirits after their long journey. - The arch: Built with cane, it is the key element for the dead
to pass from their plane to ours. It is usually decorated with
palm leaves, flowers, fruit, and pan de muerto. - Copal: It is believed that the aroma is to the spirits what the taste is to the living
. Copal, besides purifying the environment, also serves to
satiate the dead.
Pan de muerto or Pan de Mitla: Made with yolk and sugar and characterized
by its iconic strokes made with egg, sugar and lemon, it is the typical dead bread of San Pablo Villa de Mitla (a town that in pre-Hispanic times
was known as Mictlán, "place of the dead"). It is
characterized by its figurative strokes made with sugar, egg. The
Oaxacan people travel to Mitla specifically to buy this
bread.- Cempasúchil flowers: They attract the dead with their perfume and
guide their way back. - Mezcal: symbol of roots and work, to remember the joy and to toast
with the dead. - Food: Mole negro, fruits and bread of the dead, water chocolate
can never be missing, good food is intended to delight the
anima that visit us.
df
df
A cultural program that celebrates Oaxacan diversity
Beyond the altar, Proyectos Públicos and Planta DB have curated a cultural program that brings to life the richness of Oaxaca's eight regions. The inauguration will feature the Danza de la Pluma, performed by a group of promise from Teotitlán del Valle, while the following days will feature emblematic performances such as the Guelaguetza, the Danza de los Diablos de la Costa Chica and the Canto para los Ausentes, a solemn ceremony that marks the farewell to the spirits that visit the altar. The experience is enhanced by a textile exhibition and a regional food market, where Fogones Mx and traditional Oaxacan cooks offer authentic flavors that celebrate Oaxacan identity and Mexican cuisine.
df
df
Floating with spirits: a virtual reality experience
This year, the celebration includes an immersive virtual reality experience, Floating with Spirits, directed by filmmaker and artist Juanita Onzaga. This installation takes us to the Sierra Mazateca Mountains of Oaxaca and envelops us in the mysticism of two girls preparing for the Day of the Dead, recalling the stories of their shaman grandmother. It is a visual and poetic piece that aims to challenge our perception of nature and spirituality.
df
dfe
An act of hospitality that preserves cultural memory
This beautiful project represents a space for creation and dialogue, which rescues hospitality through history and deep respect for Mexican traditions. The altar of the dead is a collective effort that seeks to preserve and celebrate the cultural heritage, not only as a symbolic act, but as a reaffirmation of identity.
Admission is free and open to the public, an invitation to reconnect with deep Mexico in the heart of the capital.
This ofrenda reminds us that the Day of the Dead is a celebration of life, a tribute that transcends generations and borders.
df
