Hanal Pixan (pronounced ha-nawl peesh-awn) translates to “Food for Souls” in the Maya language. It is a Maya holiday that is celebrated throughout the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
The holiday has its origins in Maya culture, the Mayas believe that the pixan (soul) is what shapes human life. It is said that once the body dies, the soul remains, so the pixans (souls) and the living will always be connected at some level of life.
Hanal Pixán is celebrated for 3 days in a row, from October 31 to November 2. The first day is to honor the children who have already passed away, the second day is to remember the deceased adults and the third day is to commemorate all those who have already passed away.
Their way of celebrating is by mounting “the Hanal pixán offering”, that is, the altar of the dead, in which the favorite food of the deceased is placed, with a wide gastronomic option of the region and traditional Hanal Pixán dishes, typical sweets, pictures, personal objects of the deceased and characteristic elements that function as a guide to help the deceased to reach the altar offering.
OFFICIAL CITY ACTIVITIES ARE FROM OCTOBER 26th to NOVEMBER 3rd SCHEDULE BELOW.
This year the City of Merida has announced the schedule of events so be sure to mark your calendars now. It is a beautiful and exciting time in Yucatan.
✤ Saturday October 26th ✤
Festival de Catrinas
Start off the season with a festive festival of Catrinas at Paseo de Montejo
- Event: Presentation of various Mexican scenes performed by artists dressed as Catrinas.
- Time: 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
- Location: Remate de Paseo de Montejo
- For the whole family
Pixán Paalal
- Event: Walk of Souls, comedic show by Dzereco and Nohoch “Ponte chula para el Hanal Pixán,” altar display, entrepreneur bazaar, and ballet performance by CDI Sara Mena.
- Time: 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Parque Emancipación, C. 8D, Vergel III.
✤ Sunday, October 27 ✤
Inauguration of the Monumental Altar
The monumental altar is a beautiful tribute to deceased loved ones, embodying the phrase “food for the souls” in the Yucatec Maya language. Typically multi-tiered, these altars are adorned with vibrant colors, photos of the departed, personal mementos, and traditional foods such as mucbipollo and pan de muerto. Cempasuchil flowers, candles, and incense are included to guide and honor the spirits, creating a joyful space that emphasizes the celebration of life and the enduring connection between the living and the dead. Hanal Pixan altars reflect a rich cultural heritage, blending indigenous beliefs with contemporary practices while preserving the memory of ancestors.
- Event: Presentation and explanation of a 16 x 4 m altar, dedicated to our deceased.
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Plaza Grande.
Inauguration of Photography Exhibition
- Title: Ánimas: U Suut Pixano’ob (The Return of the Souls)
- Event: Photographs capturing moments of daily life in Mérida and its commissaries.
- Time: 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Centro Cultural de Mérida, Olimpo.
Mucbipollo Fair
Mucbipollo is a traditional Yucatecan dish integral to the Hanal Pixan celebration, which honors deceased loved ones during Día de los Muertos. This flavorful dish consists of marinated chicken wrapped in a masa dough, often infused with spices and herbs, and then baked underground, giving it a distinct taste and texture. Mucbipollo holds significant cultural importance as it is prepared specifically for the altars, symbolizing sustenance for the souls of the departed during their visit to the living. The dish reflects the rich culinary heritage of the Yucatán and embodies the belief that sharing food with the deceased fosters a spiritual connection, allowing families to honor and remember their ancestors in a meaningful way.
- Event: 8th edition of the exhibition, preparation, and sale of mucbipollos, accompanied by regional artistic performances.
- Time: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Parque de San Sebastián.
- Event: Presentation and explanation of a 16 x 4 m altar, dedicated to our deceased.
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Plaza Grande.
Pixán Pee’k
Pet Ghost Parade
- Event: Walk of Souls, pet-friendly market (small dog obstacles, tricks, runway contest “The Coolest Outfit,” dance contest with your dog, hoop contest), altar display, sterilization mobile, photo spot, and show “No me asusta el Pixán” by Cuxum.
- Time: 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Parque Central Gran Santa Fe Norte, Av. 11-C Gran Santa Fe Norte.
✤ Monday, October 28 ✤
Poot “Chelón”
- Event: Regional play “No me asusta el Pixán” with Yucatecan comedian Cuxum.
- Time: 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Under the Municipal Palace.
Vaquería de las Ánimas
The Vaquería de Ánimas is a traditional Yucatecan celebration that honors the spirits of the deceased, typically held during the Hanal Pixan festivities. This lively event features a vibrant combination of dance, music, and community participation, where dancers dressed as “ánimas” or spirits perform the lively jarana, a traditional Yucatecan dance characterized by energetic rhythms and colorful attire. The celebration serves as a way for the living to connect with the souls of their departed loved ones, inviting them to join in the festivities and experience joy through music and dance. The Vaquería de Ánimas not only preserves cultural heritage but also strengthens communal bonds as families and friends come together to celebrate life, death, and the continuity of traditions.
- Event: Where the souls of the deceased, or “pixanes,” dance to the rhythm of the Yucatecan jarana.
- Time: 9:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Under the Municipal Palace.
✤ Tuesday, October 29 ✤
Paseo de las Ánimas in the Commissaries
The monumental altar is a beautiful tribute to deceased loved ones, embodying the phrase “food for the souls” in the Yucatec Maya language. Typically multi-tiered, these altars are adorned with vibrant colors, photos of the departed, personal mementos, and traditional foods such as mucbipollo and pan de muerto. Cempasuchil flowers, candles, and incense are included to guide and honor the spirits, creating a joyful space that emphasizes the celebration of life and the enduring connection between the living and the dead. Hanal Pixan altars reflect a rich cultural heritage, blending indigenous beliefs with contemporary practices while preserving the memory of ancestors.
- Event: Walk of the Souls in the commissary, altar display, and folkloric ballet performance.
- Time: 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.
- Location: From the cemetery to the commissary building in Caucel.
Mayan Stories and Legends of the Underworld
- Event: Stories of Huay Kekén, Huay Pek, Aluxes, and the X’tabay, among others.
- Time: 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Cortés Sarmiento Park, C. 63B x 6 y 8, Col. Cortés Sarmiento.
✤ Wednesday, October 30 ✤
Mayan Tales
- Event: Stories of Huay Kekén, Huay Pek, Aluxes, and the X’tabay, among others.
- Time: 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Location: General Cemetery, C. 95 x 66, Centro.
Guided Tour of the General Cemetery (in English and Spanish)
- Event: Tour of the history behind the mausoleums and iconic tombs in Mérida’s cemetery (50 people per time slot).
- Time: 8:00 to 9:30 p.m.
- Location: General Cemetery, C. 95 x 66, Centro.
Ride of the Souls with the Cicloturixes
- Event: Hundreds of cyclists touring the streets of the historic center to promote social integration and the use of bicycles.
- Time: 8:00 to 9:30 p.m.
- Location: From Parque de la Ermita to the General Cemetery.
✤ Thursday, October 31 ✤
Paseo de Animas: Grand Walk of the Souls Parade
The Paseo de Ánimas parade in Mérida, Yucatán, is a captivating celebration held during the Hanal Pixan festivities, transforming the city’s streets into a vibrant spectacle of color and culture. Participants don elaborate costumes representing “ánimas” or spirits, embodying the essence of the departed as they walk through the streets, often accompanied by traditional music and dance. The parade typically features people dressed up as skeletons holding candles and leaving the cemetery and walking through the historic neighborhoods of Merida. As the parade winds its way through the historic center of Mérida, it fosters a sense of unity and remembrance, allowing both locals and visitors to engage in the rich cultural tapestry of Yucatán while celebrating the cycle of life and death. The Paseo de Ánimas serves not only as a tribute to the deceased but also as a reaffirmation of life, joy, and community spirit.
- Event: Representation of the souls’ departure and procession into the world of the living, from the Mayan worldview, with an altar display and much more.
- Activities:
- Altar Display
- Tunnel to the Underworld
- Candle Spot
- Entrepreneur Bazaar
- Regional and Local Singers
- Folkloric Ballet
- Comedy Shows
- Musical Trio
- Pok Ta Pok (Mayan ball game)
- Photo Set
- Mayan Stories
- Yucatecan Trova
- Time: 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.
- Location: Parks of San Juan, La Ermita, San Sebastián, General Cemetery, and Panteón Florido.
- There will be thousands of people, so be sure you are ready to do a lot of walking. Make arrangements to get there early and park in a place that you will easily be able to leave from. The traffic is very heavy and leaving is a real challenge. Taxis and Ubers will be difficult to get. I suggest you walk to the cemetery from la igelsia de San Juan.
Night of the Souls
- Event: Procession of the Souls and artistic events related to these traditions.
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Plaza La Isla.
✤ Friday, November 1 ✤
Mysterious Path of the Souls
- Event: Bicycle ride through emblematic locations in the Xcunyá commissary, including a path to the bees and Misnebalam.
- Time: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Location: From Xcunyá Commissary to Misnebalam.
First Offering at the Monumental Altar
- Event: Altar display with explanations about the meaning for tourists and locals, where they can leave offerings for their deceased.
- Time: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Plaza Grande.
Pixán Paalal
- Event: Walk of Souls, altar display, folkloric ballets by CDI Komchen and “October 2nd Chablekál,” theater performance “The Magic of Hanal Pixán,” and Entrepreneur Bazaar.
- Time: 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Parque Salvador Alvarado, C. 46 x 61 y 65, Cordemex.
Video Mapping at the Cathedral
Pet Ghost Parade
- Event: Video Mapping presentation with the history of Mérida’s Cathedral, accompanied by music, lights, and video.
- Time: 9:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Cathedral, Centro Histórico.
✤ Saturday, November 2 ✤
Second Offering at the Monumental Altar
- Event: Altar display with explanations for tourists and locals, where they can leave offerings for their deceased.
- Time: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Plaza Grande.
Pok ta Pok of the Underworld
- Event: Representation of the ancestral Mayan ball game between two teams of warriors.
- Time: 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Plaza Grande.
Mexican Night
- Event: Performances of regional music from other states of Mexico.
- Time: 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
- Location: Remate de Paseo de Montejo.
Paseo de las Ánimas in the Commissaries
- Event: Walk of the Souls in the commissary, altar display, and three folkloric ballets.
- Time: 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.
- Location: From the cemetery to the commissary building in Cholul.
Catrinas Parade
This is a really fun event that Merida started doing a few years ago. It is representative of The Day of the Dead all over Mexico, because the Catrinas (or dressed skeletons) are not part of the Yucatecan tradition. It is more from the central part of Mexico. However, it is still a festive anyone exciting part of the celebrations of the Day of the Dead and a great addition to the Merida traditions.
- Event: Various Mexican scenes performed by artists dressed as Catrinas.
- Time: 8:00 p.m.
- Location: From Casa de Montejo, through the Gastronomic Corridor to La Plancha.
Night Biciruta of the Souls
- Event: Promoting sports and bicycle use in public spaces.
- Time: 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Paseo de Montejo.
✤ Sunday, November 3 ✤
Musical Show “Coco”
- Event: A Broadway-style musical show full of magic and color.
- Time: 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Parque de la Alemán.
✤ Friday, November 8 ✤
Bix de la Ánimas
- Event: Walk of the Souls, altar contest, and vaquería de Ánimas.
- Time: 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Main park of the Molas Commissary.
