Mexico holds an extraordinary celebration of "Day of the Dead"
The Mayan Civilization Is Rising Again... At "Expo"
Photography: Patrick Castillo
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The Mexico pavilion in the Expo 2020 Dubai mobility area provides an exceptional experience to learn about the Mayan civilization and its most prominent landmarks, starting from the point of entry and continuing until the point of exit.
The pavilion, whose exterior design contains handmade textiles in bright colors that express the culture of the Mexican people, inspired by the famous colors of traditional women's clothing in Mexico, features from the ancient Mayan civilization, through large panels displaying the Mayan pyramids listed, and its glass forms, giving visitors an opportunity to capture Souvenir photos nearby.
The pavilion provides knowledge of the Mayan civilization, through a unique experience of a dark room that simulates caves, and includes circular chairs on which visitors lie to watch, through the ceilings of the room, videos with sound and visual effects of the most prominent features of the Mayan civilization, through an imaginary journey that displays the manifestations of life during that period.
Despite the age of the Mayan civilization, which extended from 2000 BC to 250 AD, the visitor to the pavilion feels that it is still strongly present through the corners of the pavilion itself, and through contemporary life in Mexico, where the arts of sculpture, painting and occasions that the Mexican people still celebrate, Its origins go back to the Mayan civilization, most notably the “Day of the Dead” celebration. The Mayan civilization is one of the civilizations that was interested in astronomy and the calendar, and the Mexicans had a calendar that expresses their calendar.
They were also famous for cultivating corn, which was the main ingredient in their dishes, and they planted cocoa, vanilla and beans.
Visitors see the landmarks of the "Day of the Dead" celebration, which falls on the first and second of November annually, through statues, sculpted shapes and paintings.
Mexican people believe that the spirits of the dead, especially children, return to Earth on that occasion.
In previous eras, people kept the skulls of the dead in their homes and took them out on this day to share the celebration, thinking that their ancestors would feel them.
As for the manifestations of the celebration - as presented by models of memorial statues and paintings in the wing store - it includes bringing models made of sweets for brides in the form of white and colored skulls, which are placed in forms of modern clothes, and the graves are cleaned and food is placed near them, or food and drink are placed on tables inside homes in Places believed to have been favorites of their ancestors while they were alive.
After that, the food is eaten by the families of the dead in an atmosphere of traditional music, whether in the open areas, or in the homes.
The "Day of the Dead" celebration in Mexico is a tourist event, during which young people take to the streets after painting their faces with drawings resembling skulls, or wear expressive masks, and celebrate parades accompanied by musical performances.
The hospitality official in the Mexico Pavilion, Maria Amaya, confirmed that the "Day of the Dead" celebration is an important heritage tradition in Mexico, through which the families of the dead express not to forget them.
She told "Emirates Today": "The heritage celebration dating back to the ancient Mayan civilization in the Central American region is one of the important occasions that the pavilion was keen to highlight, through the models that it displays in the souvenir shop as an expression of the spirit of Mexico."
The Mayan civilization was interested in astronomy and the calendar, and the Mexicans had a calendar that expresses their calendar.
The Maya is strongly present in the contemporary life of Mexico.