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MEXICO CITY – Thousands of Mexicans crowded Mexico City’s main avenue for a lively Day of the Dead parade on Sunday, enjoying the opportunity to mark the holiday tradition after the coronavirus pandemic densely covered the year. last.
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Most of the spectators who lined Paseo de la Reforma boulevard wore protective masks as they watched colorful floats, bands, and performers strolling down the street.
Others proudly wore glowing depictions of skulls on their faces to celebrate.
“I love coming to see this tradition that Mexicans cannot lose sight of,” said Leticia Galván, a 67-year-old civil servant dressed in a skeleton suit and a trilby, and with half of her face painted in the colors of a La Catrina skull.
“It is us making death lightly, celebrating death.”
Children sat on their parents’ shoulders to watch the procession of floats with dancers in indigenous garb and feather headdresses, scale reproductions of monuments and spectral figures from Mexico City.
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Mexico has suffered one of the highest death toll in the world from the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year city authorities urged the public to stay home, ordering the closure of cemeteries during traditional festivities. They take place on November 1 and 2.
But with nearly half the population now fully vaccinated against the virus, Mexico has significantly reduced daily infections in recent weeks, allowing the capital and most other regions of the country to lift restrictions on the public.
Many Mexicans still mask when they go outdoors and some spectators stayed away from the parade.
“I didn’t expect to see so many people,” said Rebeca Brito, a 22-year-old nurse, who stayed behind to avoid the crowds. “After all the time they have been locked up, they want to get out now.”
Reference-torontosun.com