Hanal Pixan, Halloween, Oktoberfest and Christmas

Everybody loves a holiday. And, now, everybody loves everybody’s holiday.

Here in Merida, Nov 1 and Nov 2 are the days of Hanal Pixan. This is a combination of Mayan and Spanish ways of celebrating the Days of the Dead. Each family visits the cemetery where family members are buried and also prepares an altar in the home to honor the dead members of their families. (They have been cleaning cemeteries for the past week or so.)

There is some concern that this tradition may be decreasing so this year, on Friday, Oct 26, the city sponsored an exhibition of altars from various colonias (areas) of Merida. Each one had a table with a picture, candles, incense and special food and drinks. Peeled oranges and grapefruit were popular, as were the sweet candies in special shapes. They also serve a special food called pib or mucbi pollo, a giant tamale filled with chicken. The neighbors sat around and talked. Many women wore the beautiful white dresses with flowered bibs. The men were not especially dressed.

The area where I live has newer houses, about ten or fifteen years old, and did not have any special altar on display. I don’t think the neighborhood ahs bonded like the older ones have. The older areas were the most active participants.

Thsi Hanal Pixan altar exhibit ws for the people and not geared for tourists.

There was also music, dancing by the people with the wonderful white clothing they wear for this. Every night, Merida has outdoor dances and music somewhere close to the center of the city.

Tuesday, a friend and I went to another altar exhibit at the downtown university. A bit competitive but still interesting. Some people were grading the oral presentations that the students  made.

Every day, there are articles about how Halloween is affecting Hanal Pixan. In the area where I go to the gym, I saw a house with orange Halloween pumpkins decorating the yard.

Tuesday night, October 30, I went to a Halloween party at Nueva Vida, a shelter for young girls from about 6 to12. They stay there all week and go home on weekends. A place where they can live, study and learn in a secure environment. I thought of Casa de Esperanza in Queretaro. The little girls had such a good time with the haunted house, the ¨Pin the Nose on the Witch¨ and other games. The Hanla Pixan in the main plaza was a dispappointment. I got there too late and they were disassembling the altars. I´m waiting for a parade at 7:30.

To continue with the holiday theme, we will celebrate Oktoberfest at the convention center about two blocks from my home in November. Juneau, of course, celebrates it in September, before the ships stop coming and when the tram is still operating. I find this amusing.

The Christmas tree was already up in the parking lot of the supermarket where I shop and Friday, when I went to the mall, they were putting out the special Christmas items.

We all know that Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day are celebrated more in the US than they are in the countries where they originated.

Anyway, Happy Holidays!