All Saints Day and Day of the Dead in Cozumel Mexico
Dia de Todos Los Santos & Dia de Los Muertos
Cozumel News this week is all about the all Saints Day and Day of the Dead celebrations taking place this week. The history of the Day of the Dead dates back over 3,000 years. Life was seen as a dream and it was believed that only in dying was a human being truly awake and the soul set free.
The Altars
The best interpretation of this tradition is the movie “Coco”. If you have not seen it, I totally recommend it! On display in Mexican hotels, restaurants, and other public places are special Day of the Dead altars decorated with candles, food, and sacred orange marigold flowers called cempaxochitl, or Flor de Muerto (“Flower of the Dead”).
The Bread
The bakeries on island are filled with sweets shaped in the symbols of skulls, and flowers and memorials fill the cemetery. Every bakery will be selling “Pan de Muerto” (Bread of the Dead) which is semi-sweet sugarcoated bread made from eggs and citrus fruit flavors. Traditionally it is served with hot chocolate that has been mixed with cinnamon.
November 1, Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) is known as the day when the spirits of children are expected to return and Mexicans pay homage to the souls of the children who have passed on. Tradition states that the departed descend from the heavens on this day, so family members prepare for their arrival by leaving sugar skeletons, skulls and treats on altars specially made for the occasion.
November 2, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is a celebration for all the adults that have passed away takes place. Families leave the favorite food and drink of the deceased on a special altar constructed in their home or on the tomb of the departed ancestor.
It is traditional for families to visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried to clean and to decorate the graves with offerings to their loved ones. Similar offerings are also placed on altars in family homes.
Day of The Dead Catholic Mass November 2nd, 2019
San Miguel Cemetery – Priest George Carrillo Gonzalez
Mansión de Pas Cemetery – Priest Luis Felipe Cadrillo
Mass to be held at 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.
AALKAB PIXAN Day of the Dead 3K Race
Starts at 5:30 City Hall
Day of the Dead Celebration Benito Juarez Park
Music, Exhibitions & Music starting at 7 p.m.
Aurita’s Cozumel Corner
Please bear with me while I continue to recover from my accident. I would have never dreamed that it would take this long to get back in the swing of things! I appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers for my recovery.
Cozumel Crime Reports
Over the past months reports of gun fire in Cozumel have been reported by residents in some of the Colonies. This has occurred in areas of town not frequented by tourist, namely residential areas. According to the information that I have gathered, it appears organized drug sales are occurring and the gun fire is directed at any independent dealers attempting to sell in that neighborhood. It looks like when things get too hot in one Colony, they move on to a different location. To the best of my knowledge the gun fire has been drug related and no innocent by standers have been hurt.
Living in a tourist destination, it is difficult to get statistics and crime is downplayed in order not to scare the tourists.
The first reaction to report of gun fire in our island paradise is shock. We all long the good old days when Cozumel was a hidden treasure, not so populated, not so many tourists, and the locals boasted of leaving their doors open and knowing everyone in town.
The reality is that the world has changed and it is unrealistic to expect Cozumel not to be touched, like everyone else. Cozumel remains a safe place to live and visit and in no way affected by crime to the extent that places such as Cancun and other large cities in the mainland.
Police Corruption in Cozumel
I received a copy of a letter sent to the Municipal President reporting an incident that took place between a reader and members of the Municipal Police. The reader had pulled over one evening in the vicinity of the Money Bar. As he was coming out of the bushes the police stopped him and threatened to take him to jail. The alternative was to give them all the cash he had on him. Worried about his wife and child waiting in the car and unaware of what was going on, he paid them off.
His letter gave the date, time, and police vehicle number and how many officers were in the car. Due to my health, I have not been able to follow up with the Municipal President, nor anyone in the police Department to see what if anything was done about the allegations.
A few weeks ago my daughter told me she passed a tourist that was stopped on a moto by the Municipal Police. She heard the Police ask him for money. I told her she should have told the tourist that all fines are paid at the Municipal Palace, not directly to the Police. I also told her she should have taken a photo with her cellphone.
Cozumel Neighborhood Watch Groups
The first of the alarms have been instated in colonies throughout Cozumel. Unfortunately, since we were unavailable the day of installation our group was not included. Have not received any feedback on how the installed alarms are working or how long it will be for the rest of the groups to have their alarms installed.
