Mexican Culture: Customs & Traditions | Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Hello and welcome to Sunset Rentals Vallarta. Mexico it's a country full of traditions and celebrations that have been passed from father to son from generations. Many of them have their origin in the pre-hispanic cultures and even today still form an important part of the life and identity of its people. And today we are going to talk to you about some celebrations that are already part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. 1. Day of the Dead, the festivity devoted to the dead. The indigenous festivities devoted to the dead are deeply integrated in the cultural life of Mexicans. These celebrations take place at the end of October and the beginning of November. The temporary return to earth of the deceased loved ones is celebrated. The celebration is divided into categories according to age. November 1st corresponds to children and November 2nd to adults and in some regions of the country October 28th is intended for people who died to an accident. To the return of souls to earth, families spread senpasuchil flower petals and place candles and offerings. The deceased favorite food is meticulously prepared and placed around the family altar and grave. And if you want to know everything about the Day of the Dead celebration, I will leave the link to all our videos to talk about this incredible festivity. 2. The Ritual Ceremony of the Papantla Flyers. The Ritual Ceremony of the Papantla Flyers is a religious manifestation originated in Mesoamerica. Its objective is to express respect for nature and promote harmony between the earthly and spiritual realms. Most of the secret dances were forbidden by the Spanish, but the Ritual Ceremony of the Papantla Flyers survived in the Nahua and Totona communities, who continued to practice it and now you can see representations in different parts of the country. In Puerto Vallarta, you can watch this amazing performance every day at the Malecon. I will leave a link so you can have more information. I continue. During the ceremony, four men climb a pole of 40 meters high. Sitting on the platform that tops the mast, a fifth man, the caporal, plays with a flute and drum melodies in honor to the sun, as well as the fourth winds and the cardinal points. After this act of invocation, the dancers throw themselves into the boat from the platform to which they are bound by long ropes, with a rotation imitating the flight of birds as the rope unwinds, and are gradually descending to the ground. All flyers must prepare with care and dedication for years, and there is even a school in Papantla, in the state of Veracruz, where they teach children this incredible art. The traditional Fiesta Grande de Chiapa de Corzo takes place from January 4th to the 23rd, in Chiapa, just 15 kilometers from the center of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of the state of Chiapas. The celebration is about honoring the lord of the esquípulas, San Antonio Abad and San Sebastián, with music, dance, crafts, gastronomy and religious ceremonies. The dances of the Parachicos, a term used to designate both the dancers and the type of dance they perform, are considered a collective offering to the venerated saints. The dancers wear a wooden mask, headdresses with hats, colored blankets and a tin rattle called chin-chin. They walk the streets and dance to the flute sound and the drum from morning to night, visiting various churches. The Parachicos are led by a man named the Patrón, who wears a stern expression mask, a guitar and a whip. During the Patrón dance to which the Parachicos respond with cheers. The dance of the Parachicos has more than 300 years of history. The position of the Patrón is inherited by the members of a single family. So these are some of the 11 Mexican traditions that are part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Would you like to know the other ones? Both! So we can make a video about it. And before you go, don't forget to like and share this video with your friends. See you on the next video! Bye!