On November 2nd, Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated throughout cities all across Mexico. Dia de Los Muertos is also known as Day of the Dead (English), and this is a very important cultural holiday in Mexico. Each year, the iconic Malecon Boardwalk in Puerto Vallarta is decorated to honor Dia de Los Muertos. There, you will see stunning altars that are constructed to honor the people who have passed on. The altars tend to contain photographs of the deceased, flowers, and the favorite foods and drinks of the person. Likewise, different varieties of Catrinas were on display this year, which are skeleton figures that are dressed in elegant attire. This year, the largest Catrina ever built was constructed in Puerto Vallarta, and it measured twenty-three meters tall which is seventy-five feet high. Keep reading below to learn the Guinness World Record winning Catrina built in Puerto Vallarta this year.
La Catrina History
If you don’t know how the history of La Catrina began, then continue to read this. In 1910, Jose Guadalupe (a Mexican printmaker and cartoon illustrator) made the first image of the Calavera Catrina. To start with, the image was of a tall and beautiful woman from the upper class. The skeleton was then elegantly dressed and was intended to make fun of politics and to criticize President Porfrino Diaz’s dictatorship, and the upper class people that supported him during the Mexican Revolution. The skeleton image was later named Catrina when she was painted with an elegant dress by Diego Riviera, a famous artist. In Mexican culture, it eventually became the iconic figure which represents death and how they faced it. Years later, La Catrina remains an icon for Mexican Day of the Dead.
Alondra Muca Local Artist
Are you wondering who created the Guiness World Book Award winning masterpiece? Alondra Muca is a local artist that designed this year’s Catrina in Puerto Vallarta. Muca is a young artist that gathered up a team that she worked with for over a year to make this structure that is enormous. The skeleton is made of metal and fiberglass, and Catrina is wearing a beautiful blue dress with teal sequins on the top of it. She will be wearing a hat that is made with palm tree leaves, too. The face of the skeleton is painted white, and her makeup has blue around the eyes, and pink and red flowers are painted on her cheeks and chin. The Catrina is so tall that the Guinness Book of World Records awarded it with the tallest Catrina in the world.
Make sure you plan a vacation to Puerto Vallarta if you were unable to attend the Day of the Dead celebration next year. However, in the meantime Puerto Vallarta is a great place to visit anytime of the year. Located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast in Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta has great weather, miles of beautiful beaches, world class shopping, tons of outdoor activities to enjoy, and more. Check out Garza Blanca Resort if you are looking for a wonderful place to stay. Garza Blanca is owned and operated by the award-winning TAFER Hotels & Resorts.They have almost four decades of experience in the vacation industry. In Puerto Vallarta, their luxury resort is situated on a beautiful pristine and private beach just minutes from downtown PV. They also have a Residence Club membership available for purchase for qualified travelers. Give them a call today to book your Puerto Vallarta vacation!
