There are festivities that strike a chord, whose elements or rituals are so fascinating that they transcend borders and take hold in other parts of the world. Such is the case of the Day of the Dead that we celebrate in Mexico, a date that for several years has been solemnly reproduced under the maple leaves in cities like Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, in Canada.

Catrinas, food, altars and more artistic expressions occupy different spaces in this nation, before, during and after All Saints' Day. Additionally, this year, the Canadian capital is preparing a major Day of the Dead parade that lasts five hours; It begins in the afternoon and ends at dusk in Lansdowne Park. According to Air Canada, “there will be a free entry mega-party in which the characterizations of La Catrina will reach another level. Plus, a costume contest, dancing, music and typical Mexican dishes like tacos, chilaquiles and pozole. It is also important to highlight that this procession has a dedicated space to allow children to know in depth the legends of catrinas, ghosts and pantheons that give the essence of the tradition.

For its part, in Vancouver an event called Night for All Souls is organized, from October 26 to November 1 at the Mountain View cemetery; Here, families are encouraged to gather around the mausoleums and approach the graves of their loved ones to talk to them. This could be the activity most similar to what we experience in cemeteries throughout the Mexican Republic.

In Toronto, the tradition arrived in mid-October and culminated on the 26th with a program led by the Día de los Muertos collective. These include card-making workshops, theatrical performances and altar-making.

According to Air Canada, there are other corners like Montreal and Ontario, which also organize important allusive festivities in which the smell of copal and colorful skulls is not lacking.

IN THE PANTHEON
On November 1, All Souls' Night ends with a visit to Mountain View Cemetery.