I Love a Parade (Reprise)

The opening sequence of the 2015 James Bond film "Spectre" was filmed in Mexico City and portrays a Day of the Dead parade.  In reality, Mexico City had never had such a parade, but due to the interest generated by the film, the following year the city government organized the first parade.  It was a success, and it is likely that the Day of the Dead parade will be a annual event.  There are critics who complain that it is not a part of the traditional celebration, but who says that you can't start new traditions?  Besides, the parade's content is pure Mexican culture.  There is not the slightest hint of gringo Halloween contaminating the event.

So, for the second Saturday in a row, Alejandro and I were downtown to see a parade.  It was scheduled to start at four o'clock in the afternoon.  It was to begin near the entrance to Chapultepec Park, continue along the Paseo de la Reforma, turn onto Juárez Avenue, pass through the historic center, and end at the Zócalo, the main plaza.  Alejandro and I were at the Alameda Park along Juárez, more than half way along the parade route.  It was not yet four, but we could see that we had better stake a claim along the street as the crowds were already forming.

Looking at the crowd across the avenue

Anxiously waiting for the parade

It is estimated that around one million people lined the parade route.

We stood for about an hour and a half before the parade finally approached the Alameda.  The parade was dedicated to the victims and heroes of the September 19th earthquake.  I did not understand what this cart at the beginning of the parade represented, but Alejandro told me that it was a clenched fist (symbolizing the strength and solidarity of the Mexican people) rising from the rubble of the earthquake.

The first half of the parade was devoted to Mexico's history and culture, from the pre-Hispanic civilizations, through the arrival of the Spanish, to the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Mexico Beautiful and Beloved

A famous quote by the revolutionary Emiliano Zapata...

"Better to die standing than to live an entire life kneeling."

The second half of the parade was entitled "Carnaval de Calaveras"... Carnival of Skulls.

'Til death do us part.

It was a wonderful parade, and was definitely worth the wait!