Michoacán, Guest of Honor at the 2025 Xcaret Festival

Xcaret's Festival of Life and Death Traditions is gearing up for its 19th edition, which will take place in 2025. This year, the festival will honor Mexico's cultural heritage with a special focus on Michoacán, the guest state of honor.

The event is presented as a meeting point between two of the country's most important traditions: the Festival of the Souls of the Purépecha culture and Janal Pixan, or Soul Food, of the Mayan culture. This "respectful dialogue between ancestral worldviews" is the central focus of the festival, which seeks to highlight the nation's cultural richness.

Michoacán's Secretary of Tourism, Roberto Monroy, who attended the press conference to announce the details of the Festival, emphasized that it is an opportunity to showcase the vast cultural and tourist wealth of his state. "The festival becomes a showcase for international visitors to the Riviera Maya to learn about and be attracted to visit Michoacán."

Death as a Gift: A Message of Unity

The phrase "Death is not an end, but a reunion" encapsulates the vision shared by the Purépecha and Mayan cultures regarding this celebration. During the presentation, Juan de la Cruz, a traditional Purépecha musician originally from Janitzio, Michoacán, known for his singing during the celebration of the Night of the Dead, where he performs the pirekua, a traditional Purépecha song that honors the deceased. He emphasized the idea that in these lands, the deceased are not buried, but rather "planted" so that life may flourish again. This is a worldview that seeks to enrich the festival.

As part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the monarch butterfly sanctuaries, Michoacán is bringing a delegation of more than 250 artists and artisans. The arrival of the monarch butterfly to the region coincides with the Night of Souls, a symbol that links migration with the return of souls.

Tamara Sosa Alanís, Michoacán's Secretary of Culture, highlighted some activities that visitors will be able to enjoy, such as traditional dances and music: with balonas, harp playing, and the zapateado of the Tierra Caliente. Additionally, the monumental masks of the Tlahuiles of Sahuayo will be presented with music recently composed for them, the pirekuas of the Ciénega region, and the sones and sonecitos of Purépecha communities that will accompany the dances of the white fish and the well-known old men from the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro. Also present will be the curpites of San Juan Nuevo, a very special dance in which single young people participate.

On the other hand, music will be a central element, with the participation of the Alma de Apatzingan Great Harp ensemble, the Cherán and Magnolia Sitziki female orchestras, an Alientos ensemble, and the classical guitarist from Paracho, Abel García.

In the visual arts, three major exhibits will be on display: Carrying My Identity, a photography exhibition on the attire of Michoacán's four indigenous peoples (Mazahua, Nahuatl, Otomi, and Purépecha); Dances of Michoacán, a photography and printmaking exhibition curated by Florence Leyret and Artemio Rodríguez; a Live Mural, where artist Iracema Parra will create a mural on-site with a theme about life and death; and the crafts and gastronomy exhibition, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with traditional cooks present.

As for crafts, products from the state's 17 artisanal branches will be exhibited and sold, ranging from metalwork to embroidered textiles and traditional pottery. The Puente al Paraíso cemetery will be renovated with a Purépecha vision, transforming it into a "mini Janitzio."

Beyond spectacle, audience trainer

The Xcaret Festival of Life and Death Traditions is more than just an entertainment event; it's a cultural outreach platform backed by extensive research. Leticia Agueberre, Corporate Director of Art and Culture at Grupo Xcaret, explains to El Economista that the festival's mission is to take Mexican culture seriously and present it with respect and authenticity.

Agueberre emphasizes that each cultural and artistic proposal is based on solid research. The intention is to go beyond the "show" and the "lights and colors" to delve into the "deep symbols" of cultural manifestations. This approach has allowed the festival to evolve and consolidate over 19 editions, integrating the traditions of a guest state with those of the Mayan region and a broad repertoire of performing arts.

She said that one of the festival's strongest convictions is the development of audiences from childhood. Through "Hacienda Niños," a non-formal educational space, the festival seeks to offer meaningful and fun experiences to traditions and cultural heritage. The director explains that these types of experiences "stay in the memory forever," creating a lasting bond with Mexican culture.

Furthermore, the festival uses a "multi-sensory" approach to reach its audience, with a curatorship that balances offerings for local and international audiences. The goal is for culture to be not only seen, but also felt through smell, taste, and conversation, allowing each person to "interpret it through their own history and their own lenses."

She concludes that the trust that the communities, artists, chefs, and all the guests have placed in the festival is a fundamental achievement for Xcaret. Agueberre asserts that this mutual respect is an essential pillar of their philosophy: "We treat people as you would like to be treated." This equitable treatment is what allows for genuine collaboration, where artists not only present their work but also enjoy an enriching experience in the park.

Agueberre emphasizes that this is an "investment in Mexico" and in "cultural tourism," where the combined will and collaboration with various entities are key to the event's success.

For more information, please visit: https://www.festivaldevidaymuerte.com/es/

[email protected]