Calacas of José Guadalupe Posada
Visit the Historic Center to see this great luminous tribute to calacas of José Guadalupe Posada.
The commemorative lighting for the Day of the Dead in Mexico City’s Zócalo is inspired by the works of José Guadalupe Posada.
The lighting ceremony in the Historic Center of Mexico City marked the beginning of one of the most special commemorations for the entire country: the Day of the Dead. These lights are made up of various elements characteristic of this season, especially the famous calacas that harken back to one of the artistic creators of this celebration, the great José Guadalupe Posada.
This is the second consecutive year of this magnificent lighting, and for 2023, it was originally planned for the lights to be lit several days in advance. However, out of respect for the victims of Acapulco after the passage of Hurricane Otis, the lighting was postponed. The illumination pays tribute to the Mexican cartoonist, engraver, and illustrator José Guadalupe Posada, as this year marks the 110th anniversary of his passing.
The lighting is inspired by two great works created by Posada, which are “El gran fandango y francachela de todas las calaveras” and “La calavera maderista.”
Furthermore, the lights complement the Monumental Offering in the Zócalo, so the space showcases the colors representing these traditional dates. It is worth noting that 6.5 kilometers of “escarcha” (a type of decorative material), five kilometers of luminous hose, and five kilometers of cable were used. The materials used were reused from those installed during Mexico’s Independence celebration.
For the creation of the figures, 110 workers from Sobse (Mexico City’s Ministry of Works and Services) participated, and the figures presented are inspired by two engravings. Remember to attend the parade, which will be composed of various creative production projects and artistic and cultural collectives that will make the event just as attractive as in previous years.
