The annual celebration of Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead is not as spooky as it sounds; it is a celebration of life begging on the eve of October 31 until its culmination on November 2. It is a vibrant and colorful celebration; it is not about fear or sadness, but the return of the souls of friends and family. Where the dead are welcomed with colorful costumes, food, drinks, and celebration.
A special aspect of this holiday is the monarch butterfly or “Quetzalpaplotl” who return every year and the native people believe them to represent the souls of family and friends rising from heaven. Like the early 19th century painter and cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada and his reenvisioned Mictecacihuatl, an Aztec Goddess as a female skeleton recognized today as La Catrina, we share with you “She’s Smiling” by artist Rene Lopez on the trails of Quinta Mazatlan. Artist Cele Castillo created another art installation called the “Butterfly Lady” in honor of the fall monarch migration, which coincides with the monarch descending on Michoacán, Mexico in time for the Day of the Dead festivities.
Like the Monarchs migrating to Mexico, make your journey over to Quinta Mazatlán to celebrate life and remember your loved ones. The Sticks & Bones Trail is up through November 14 during park hours, Tuesday to Saturday 8 am to 5 pm and Thursday nights until 7:30 pm. For extra health measures, advance tickets and timed-entry are required for Thursday afternoons and Saturdays only. Please visit quintamazatlan.ticketleap.com/sticks-and-bones-trail for your tickets. Follow Quinta Mazatlán on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube @QuintaMazatlan to learn more about programs and our natural & cultural heritage in the Rio Grande Valley. For more information, please call 956-681-3370, and thank you for keeping our community safe by following health and well-being practices in the park.
The magical mariposa reminds us that life and death are cyclical and should be celebrated in nature. Enjoy the Sticks & Bones Trail at Quinta Mazatlán through November 14th, 2020. Advance tickets and timed-entry are required on two of the five visitation days, Thursday afternoons and Saturdays.
