Final of Day of The Dead - Street Parade, San Miguel de Allende  02.Nov.2025 - Mexico

"Death is democratic. At the end, regardless of whether you are white, dark, rich or poor, we all end up as skeletons." - Jose Guadalupe Posada

The Day of the Dead is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage. In the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, the opening sequence features a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. At the time, no such parade took place in Mexico City; one year later, due to the interest in the film and the government desire to promote the Mexican culture, the federal and local authorities decided to organize an actual Dia de Muertos parade through Paseo de la Reforma and Centro Historico on October 29, 2016, which was attended by 250,000 people. The idea of a massive celebration was also popularized in the Disney Pixar movie Coco. The festivity has become a national symbol in recent decades and it is taught in the nation's school system asserting a native origin. In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Desfile de Catrinas, First held on November 1st 2001, with only eight participants, the parade of the Catrinas has grown quickly to become an established spectacle with thousands of participants in cities all over Mexico. The original intention back then was to reduce the influence of Halloween on the traditional celebration of Dia de los Muertos and to exhibit pride in Mexican and indigenous culture to the expatriate community of SMA. Posado, the creator of Catrina was a political cartoonist in the early 1900's, who was known for using skeletons to depict members of all parts of society. His message was clear: death comes for all of us, no matter your status or occupation. He also mocked the elite's obsession with European high society and criticized people's renouncement of their indigenous roots by dressing the skeleton in a French dress and a classicly fashionable hat. Catrinas, catrines, skulls, butterflies, sombreros, marigolds, guitars, and floats brought life to all the streets of the historic center where the traditional " Catrinas Parade " took place, from El Cardo Street to the Main Square and ending on Correo Street. At night at 02 Nov 2025, the city roars to life for the Dia de los Muertos parade. Catrinas, who spent days at makeup stands, showcased their special outfits in this street show. Aztec dancers, mojigangas; gigante paper mache puppets with huge heads that fit on the shoulders of dancers who wildly swing arms stuffed with cloth.Mojigangas were brought from Spain in the 17th century. As a form of street art, they can satirize public figures and depict beings ranging from devils and angels to Madonna and Einstein. They are not spooky. Anyone can join the parade, even ex-patriots from the US and Canada who have lived here for decades. As night fell and Dia de los Muertos ended, we watched the fireworks finale light up the sky before all went quiet.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead, https://www.wheredoestheroadend.com/dia-de-los-muertos/)