With Covid-19 cases spiking in the state, Jalisco authorities are urging citizens to hold back from indulging in their traditional Day of the Dead customs this year.
Mexican families honor the memory of departed loved ones by visiting their grave sites, building traditional Day of the Dead altars or by simply enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with traditional pan de muerto. Sunday, November 1 is traditionally the day to remember angelitos (little angels), children who have passed away. Monday, November 2, is reserved for older children and adults.
Cemeteries are usually packed on the Days of the Dead, so this year most municipal governments in the state have decided to keep them closed to avoid coronavirus contagion. And with the new mitigation measures coming into effect as of October 30, family gatherings are also being discouraged.
Halloween, while not a Mexican tradition, has become increasingly popular in recent years, and children in neighborhoods in towns all over the state now go out trick-or-treating. (The tradition here is for kids to knock on doors yelling, “queremos Halloween!”.)
To avoid conglomerations of people, authorities have urged parents to keep their children indoors on Saturday, October 31, especially in subdivisions (or cotos) where Halloween is often observed with great enthusiasm.