The Day of the Dead
We’ve all heard about the Day of the Dead or seen the classic sugar skull paintings—but what does this celebration really represent? Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is not a Mexican version of Halloween but an explosion of color and life-affirming joy. As in cities across Mexico, join Athenian revellers as they don funky makeup and costumes and make offerings to lost loved ones.
The Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead has now become a tradition in the Greek capital, where year after year, the festivity has been gathering a growing crowd. Last year, around 1500 people, many of whom were dressed and painted accordingly, participated in the Parade of the Dead which took place in the central streets of Thissio, under the view of the Acropolis.
Day of the Dead Parade passing in front of the Roman Library
This year, in adaptation to the particular circumstances of social distancing, the Embassy of Mexico and the Mexican community in Greece and the Abanico School of Languages are organizing the exhibition of traditional altars -colorful and vibrant memorials honoring the deceased loved ones- in several locations in the center of Athens, as well as through online activities. Follow the Facebook page of the Embassy of Mexico (Embajada de México en Grecia) for updates on this year’s program of the Day of the Dead celebration in Greece.
PROGRAM
The events will be published on the Facebook page Mexicanos en Grecia / Mexicans in Greece
SATURDAY OCTOBER 31
- From 6:00 p.m. Participations of the community in the ALMOST COMPETITION of the dead.
- 7.30 p.m. RECIPE for the “bread of the dead” by Berenice Dichi Lara. In Spanish.
- 8.00 pm. EXHIBITION of the works “Las Catrinas by Arlina” (crafts from papier mache) by Arlina Kotsifakis Palamidis. In Greek and Spanish.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1
- 7.30 p.m. Painting exhibition “The last look” by Melina Moisidelis. In Greek and Spanish.
- 8.00 pm. AWARDS of the “Kalaveras” Competition (poems for the day of the dead) of Abanico.
Coordination: Eduardo Lucena, Ramón Talavera and Luis Eduardo Torres. In Spanish.
- 9:00 p.m. CONCERT by Martha Moreleón and the Abanicoro Choir, and with musicians Herman Mayr, Pedro Fabian and Román Gómez.
In the video of the broadcast will appear the ALTARS OF ABANICO.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
- From 6:00 p.m. PHOTOS with costumes of Catrina and Catrín (characteristic figures of the day of the dead).
- 7.30 p.m. READING “Folk sayings and proverbs about death” by Elia Ramírez Rouvalis. In Greek and Spanish.
- 8.00 pm. GREETINGS OF MEXICANS “From Mexico to Greece on the Day of the Dead”, by the Abanico team and the LEA Festival. In Spanish with Greek subtitles.
- 8.30 p.m. PRESENTATION OF THE ALTONS OF THE DEAD ESTABLISHED BY MEMBERS OF THE MEXICAN ASSOCIATION IN GREECE. One of them, the altar to the poets, will be in the restaurant Mama Roux (48-50 Aiolou, Athens) from 29/10 to 3/11. In Greek and Spanish.
