{"id":8258,"date":"2022-04-08T10:22:22","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T02:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourhero.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=8258"},"modified":"2024-01-28T00:44:46","modified_gmt":"2024-01-28T05:44:46","slug":"festivals-in-latin-america-5-biggest-cultural-celebrations-to-see","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourhero.com\/en\/magazine\/culture-tradition\/festivals-in-latin-america-5-biggest-cultural-celebrations-to-see\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Incredible cultural festivals in Latin America you must see in your lifetime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s no secret: festivals are big in Latin America. Nothing in the world compares to experiencing the sheer extravagance of Rio de Janeiro\u2019s euphoric Carnival or witnessing the ancient celebration of Inti Raymi up in the Peruvian Andes. Ready for an immersive experience like no other? Discover some of the biggest cultural celebrations from Mexico to Peru! Here are five different festivals in Latin America that will offer a truly unforgettable experience on your travels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day of the Dead (D\u00eda de los Muertos) \u2014 Mexico<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Festivals
Image by Amaury<\/a> via Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Day of the Dead \u2014 D\u00eda de los Muertos \u2014 is a custom born out of a blend of ancient Mesoamerican ritual with Spanish culture and European religion. This lively holiday is marked throughout Latin America, though it is most strongly associated with Mexico where the traditional practice of celebrating the dead originated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indigenous peoples like the Aztecs and the Toltecs did not consider death the end of one\u2019s existence but instead believed death to be simply another chapter of life. The festival of D\u00eda de los Muertos melds this belief with the Christian holiday \u201cAll Saints Day\u201d, culminating in a truly unique celebration. It is believed that during the Day of the Dead, the border between the real world and the spirit world dissolves, allowing the souls of the dead to return to the world of the living to feast, drink, and reunite briefly with their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Festivals
Image by Mario Mendez<\/a> via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When to go and what you\u2019ll see<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

D\u00eda de los Muertos is typically celebrated each year from October 31 to November 2. While this period coincides with Halloween and the two holidays do share some similarities in the form of costumes and parades, visitors to Mexico shouldn\u2019t confuse the two. During the celebration, families treat the deceased as honored guests, leaving offerings such as the deceased\u2019s favorite food and drinks at gravesites or creating private altars (ofrendas) at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the streets, you\u2019ll encounter prominent symbols like calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). During festivities, you will see people dressed up in brightly-colored traditional outfits adorned with painted skull masks and eating skull-shaped sugar candy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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