Mexico’s Día de Muertos, an Uncanny Celebration of Life
It is a truly unique and colorful experience, and not one that should be missed by foreigners living in Mexico
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Cache of Aztec Artifacts Uncovered, Possible Clue to Royal Tomb
By ALLAN WALL What is now Mexico City was founded as Tenochtitlán in 1325 by the Mexica (Aztec) and subsequently destroyed by the Spaniards and their indigenous allies in 1521. The Spaniards built a new city on the rubble. Therefore, when they dig down under the city, archeologists frequently find Aztec structures, as was the case in the renowned Templo
Read moreMexico’s Emblematic Virgin of Guadalupe
BY THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS She is the patron saint of Mexico and the focal point of the world’s most visited Christian pilgrimage site. Her image is seen in virtually every Mexican Catholic church and is even caricaturized in hip teenage accessories ranging from school backpacks to chic little blouses. And yet, for all her omnipresent influence in Mexican culture, the story
Read moreMexico’s Crimson Christmas Flowers
PULSE NEWS MEXICO Blush-red poinsettias have long been regarded around the world as the perfect companion to seasonal traditions and classic Christmas decorations. Lesser known is the leafy, long-stemmed flowers’ far-flung history. Called nochebuenas in Spanish (literally “holy night,” referring to Christmas Eve), the poinsettia has traveled across oceans and changed varieties more than 70 times within its centuries-old legacy.
Read moreMexico’s Golden Flowers of the Dead
By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS While the ubiquitous images of painted skeletons and sugar skulls that abound across Mexico this time of year might be a bit off-putting for visitors from other countries, the golden orange color of thousands of marigold (cempasúchitl) flowers that line Avenida Reforma and decorate the omnipresent ofrendas (altars to the deceased) at least give a cheery
Read moreMexico’s Living Dead March through the Capital
PULSE NEWS MEXICO In a preview to the Mexico’s internationally acclaimed two-day Day of the Dead celebrations, which are observed each year on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, more than 600 ghoulish skeletons, zombie-like walking dead and fantastic multihued creatures took to the streets of Mexico City on Saturday, Oct. 29, in a promenade of horror and moribund fun. This
Read moreNavigating Mexico: Day of the Dead Goes Global
By JUAN DE JESÚS BREENE PUERTO VALLARTA, Jalisco — Mexico’s two-day Day of the Dead celebration (Nov. 1 and Nov. 2) has always been an intricate element of the national culture, taking its roots in pre-Hispanic observations and incorporating Christian tweets under the watchful eyes of the Catholic Church during colonial times. But how did celebrating the Day of the
Read moreMexico Prepares to Celebrate 212 Years of Independence
By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS During the 300 years of Spanish rule following Hernán Cortés’ conquest of Tenochtitlán in 1521, the people of Mexico suffered the indignities of imported smallpox epidemics, forced labor and imposed religious conversions. The disenfranchised indigenous Mexica, Maya, Zapotec and Toltec civilizations were stripped of their heritage and land, and what properties were not claimed by the viceroys
Read moreMexican Archeologist Receives Princess of Asturias Award
By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF Renowned Mexican archaeologist Eduardo Matos Moctezuma received the coveted Princess of Asturias Award in the field of social sciences in Oviedo, Spain, on Wednesday, May 18. Matos Moctezuma, who is best known for discovering and excavating the ancient Mexica (Aztec) Templo Mayor in downtown Mexico City, was given the award in recognition of more
Read morePurépecha People’s Labyrinthic Search for Social Justice
By JESSICA GUERRERO MORELIA, Michoacán — The exact number of indigenous people in Mexico is uncertain, although, according to the last population census in 2020, it is estimated to be about 16 million. Estimates from civil organizations speak of a higher number. This population is concentrated in 56 different ethnic groups located throughout the country, creating a diverse cultural mosaic
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