Celebracion de octavario

I wanted to write a blog about Hanal Pixan (pronounced ha-nahl pee-shan), the Mayan Day of the Dead (Nov. 1-2), but it's taken me a while to get around to it. It is a very sacred holiday here in Yucatan. The meaning of Hanal Pixan is "food for the souls" and I think more than just feeding the souls of the departed, the offerings of this holiday feed the souls of the living. I think it is a beautiful tradition that offers a healthy perspective on loss and mortality. To celebrate it, I decided to set up my own little altar at home, to pay respect to my ancestors and to the people who are no longer with us. Following tradition, I bought special sweets (including a coconut cake with candied lime zest that is out of this world!), fruits, and a gourd bowl at the farmers' market. I had special candles, incense, and flowers, as well as items with significance to the departed, and I set them up on my kitchen counter.

On the 8th day after Hanal Pixan, there is another celebration. Today, being the 8th day, we celebrated the octavario at UNO. The students and faculty all built altars around the open area you see when you first enter the campus. The altars are built of sticks and palms, and flowers, branches, banana leaves, and offerings are placed on them. Many people dressed in traditional Yucatecan clothing (women in huipiles and men in white guayaberas, white slacks, and light-colored straw hats). Offerings included peeled oranges and tangerines, gourd bowls filled with atole (a sweet drink made from corn), candles, tamales or chachacuas, sweet pumpkin seed candies, and other items that represent things that the ancestors loved. For example, some altars had bottles of liquor, photos of loved ones, tobacco, etc. Interestingly, several altars had printed pictures of Michael Jackson for their altars! Incense was lit, Mayan prayers were said, and once it was dark, candles were lit as well. It was really beautiful and the students were very into the entire process. (They also didn't have any academic classes today because of the activities!)
My brother, Josh, arrived in Valladolid yesterday and he timed it perfectly: He was able to see the campus in the midst of one of its most beautiful cultural traditions and Hurricane Ida had just barely gone on her way towards the Gulf, skirting the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Josh took some photos that I hope to share with you in the future so you can see the amazing effort that went into the altars and get a sense of the reverence for the preservation of Mayan culture that is found at UNO.
Tomorrow I will take him to the mercado in the morning for juice and breakfast, and then he will take in some of the sights and sounds of Valladolid, as well as a nearby cenote (a sacred sinkhole/natural well of the ancient Maya)!