Traditions in Puerto Vallarta
If you are traveling to Puerto Vallarta during the first week of November, you’ll be visiting during one of the most important annual cultural celebrations in Mexico: Día de Muertos. Also, called Día de Los Muertos, the “Day of the Dead” is actually a two-day event, on November 1st and 2nd, and though the name may sound like a time of sadness, Día de Muertos is a celebration of the happy remembrance of family and friends who have passed.
One of the things that you will see during this time in Puerto Vallarta are colorful altars that hold the memories of loved ones. Altars will have photographs, flowers, colorful cut paper flags, candies, candles, religious images, favorite foods and drinks of the departed, and the iconic sugar skulls of Mexico decorating them. The altars are not only to honor loved ones but offered as a comfort to the souls of those being remembered, with their favorite dishes and treats to enjoy in the afterlife, candles to light their way, and flowers to bring joy.
You will also likely spy La Catrina at this time of year, the representation of animated female skeletons dressed in fanciful hats and European dresses in the style of the early 1900s. A creation of Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada around 1910, La Catrina has come to be a widely popular part of Día de Muertos celebrations throughout Mexico.
And another part of Día de Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta that you will want to try is Pan de Muertos, a soft and sweet bread traditionally served for the occasion. Pan de Muertos is generally baked in a round shape to mimic the shape of a skull baked with cross pieces of dough to represent the bones of the dead and then topped with sugar. Pan de Muertos is widely available in late October and early November at bakeries, grocery stores, and cafes around Puerto Vallarta.
November is a particularly special time to visit Puerto Vallarta as the city celebrates joyful memories of friends and family and we hope to be able to host your stay at Pinnacle Resorts, centrally located in the heart of the Romantic Zone within walking distance to all the cultural attractions of downtown Puerto Vallarta.
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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
