Mexican embassy marks Day of the Dead

AMMAN — The Mexican embassy in Amman held a reception on Sunday in honour of “Día De Los Muertos”, or the Day of the Dead, marking the commemorative event in the Kingdom.   

The Day of the Dead is a “long-standing Mexican tradition which holds great importance for the Mexican people and goes back to pre-Hispanic rituals,” an embassy statement read. 

“It’s really exciting. I’m very grateful for us to show our tradition and culture,” Mexican Consul Guadalupe Trad said. “It’s very important for us to transfer cultural traditions.”

The event showcased an altar decorated with photos, memorabilia and food to commemorate three individuals who have contributed to Mexican culture and passed away this year. The altar paid tribute to Francisco Toledo, who was described as a “tireless cultural promoter of numerous causes”, historian Miguel León-Portilla and singer José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz, better known as José José. 

Toledo was a prominent artist in Mexico and worked in a multitude of artistic formats. He was a winner of the National Prize for Science and Art in the area of fine arts. He also founded several cultural institutions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art of Oaxaco, according to the embassy. 

León-Portilla was a reputable and commonly cited source on Mexican culture and literature in the pre-Columbian and colonial eras among Mexican academia. He received many awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1969, and later the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honour, the highest award bestowed by the Mexican Senate. 

Ortiz  was known as “El Príncipe de la Canción”, or the prince of song. In the 1980s, he reached international prominence and secured several Grammy nominations, according the embassy. 

The event also featured cultural food, art and face painting. It saw many attendees, including diplomats. 

“We obviously want to expand our presence in the Middle East and particularly Jordan,” Ambassador Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández said. “We see Jordan as a good example of peace and security.” 

He noted that the event was a “good way” to develop relations. “No matter what our religion is and no matter what our culture is, we should work together for peace and development,” he said. 

Artist Suzanne Saoub contributed artwork and did face painting at the event. She said she became a part of the celebration after meeting the ambassador at an exhibition. Saoub studied in Spain and enjoys Mexican art, so she was “happy to volunteer”. 

“I was always curious about Mexican art, always had my eyes on Mexican art,” Saoub said. 

Eliu Almonte, an attendee at the event who had spent time in Mexico, explained that the face paint exemplifies La Catrina, a traditional Mexican icon. 

“It’s a really important symbol,” he said through a translator. 

He noted that this holiday signifies that “death is something that causes celebration rather than grief”.