Getting Ready for the Procession

Last Sunday evening, one of the major events of the Day of the Dead season took place... the Mega-Procession of Catrinas.  The procession was first held in 2016, and has grown to the point where it rivals the Day of the Dead Parade (which is being held today).  I could not find out how many people participated in this year's procession, but there were 30 contingents marching from the Independence Monument to the Zócalo.  The contingents included circus "catrinas", roller-skating "catrinas", medieval "catrinas", brides and grooms, and pre-Hispanic "catrinas".

Alejandro and I attended the procession many years ago, but we've reached the point where we really don't feel like standing in the crowd of 300,000 spectators.  What we have done the last three years is head to the area by the Independence Monument in the afternoon and snap photos of the participants as they wait for the event to start.

So, here are some of the participants.  (At least I assume that they were going to participate, and weren't just elaborately dressed spectators.)

One of the contingents wears costumes made of balloons.  Here, the costumes are being prepared.

I asked this group if they were Hawaiian "catrinas" and if they were going to dance the hula.

They laughed.

On Florencia Street, which runs into Reforma at the Independence Monument, decorated vehicles that were going to be in the procession were already in formation.

I assume that this float was going to accompany the contingent wearing balloon costumes.