Across Mexico each year on November 2nd Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated, which is also known in English as Day of the Dead. This is a vital cultural event that is very important in Mexico’s rich heritage and culture. On the Malecon boardwalk in Puerto Vallarta, you can find colorful and interesting decorations in honor of Dia de Los Muertos. Many beautiful altars were created to honor the people who have passed on before us. They also had many varieties of Catrinas too, which are skeleton figures that are dressed elegantly and are also a big part of the Dia de Muertos culture. In fact, the biggest Catrina in Puerto Vallarta’s history was constructed this year and measured 23 meters tall or 75 feet tall earning it the Guinness World Record. Keep reading more to learn about the impressive Catrina built in Puerto Vallarta in 2022.
The History of Catrina
To start with, if you haven’t heard about Catrina history, then you are in the right place. Jose Guadalupe was a printmaker and cartoon illustrator who made a zinc sketch in 1910 of the first Calavera Catrina. The first original image was intended to be a satirization of women of the upper class. The skeleton was created to make fun at the politics and criticize the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz, and the upper-class people that supported him during the Mexican Revolution. Much later the skeleton image was named Catrina, and she was dressed in beautiful dresses by Diego Riviera, a famous artist. Eventually, she became the iconic figure in Mexico that would represent death and how the Mexican people dealt with it. La Catrina over time became the icon for the Mexican Day of the Dead.
Artist Alondra Muca Designed This Year’s Catrina
In Puerto Vallarta, a local PV artist named Alondra Muca was the designer for this year’s Catrina. She is a young artist that assembled a team that worked on the enormous Catrina for more than a year. The Catrina is made of metal and fiberglass, and the Catrina wore a stunning blue dress that has teal sequin accents on the top portion of the dress. The hat that the Catrina also contained actual palm tree leaves on it. The face of Catrina was painted white, and her makeup had blue designs around the eyes and on her cheeks and chin included pink and red flowers. The Guinness Book of World Records awarded this enormous and impressive Catrina as the tallest in the entire world.
If you were unable to see this year’s Day of the Day celebration held in Puerto Vallarta, then make sure you make reservations to see the next one. However, Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit anytime of year. Puerto Vallarta is located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, and has the best beaches, bars, shopping, and more. Not sure where to stay? Contact Garza Blanca for your accommodations. They are owned and operated by the prestigious TAFER Hotels & Resorts which has almost forty years of experience in the luxury vacation industry. Currently, special all-inclusive travel packages are on sale to visit Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabo, and Cancun. In addition, qualified travelers can apply to join their exclusive Residence Club, too. Contact Garza Blanca today to book a dream vacation to Mexico!