Day of the Dead exhibition at Cultural Institute

the annual “Day of the Dead” exhibition is underway at the Institute of Co-operation and Culture Mexico/Belize. The weeklong event is a Mexican tradition, which dates back to around 1800 B.C. to days of the Aztecs. Institute Director Guillermo Gutierrez speaks of the tradition.

Guillermo Gutierrez, Director, Cultural Institute

“We can see this with Hispanic cultures from the past and with the arrival of the Spanish people. We have a kind of a mixed culture. This means that all the old tradition changed a bit with the introduction of Catholic or religious symbols. This is the actual thing that we are presenting. It’s a tradition during the first week of November in Mexico.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“What does this tradition signify, I see fruits, bread et cetera?”

Guillermo Gutierrez

“Well, the idea is an offering to the people we loved in the past, the food they enjoyed when they were living with us. In some cases we offer cooked dishes or in some other fruits, special drinks. It’s a banquet for them.”

The exhibition is open to the public from nine in the morning to six p.m. and runs through Friday.