Mexico City holds annual Catrinas Parade ahead of Day of the Dead
Thousands took part in the annual Catrinas Parade along Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Sunday, 25 October. It is part of the build-up to Day of the Dead, observed mainly on 1 and 2 November.
Thousands of people took part in the annual Catrinas Parade in Mexico City on Sunday, 25 October, marching along the capital's central boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma, in elaborate headdresses, glittering gowns and painted skull make-up. The event is part of the build-up to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a holiday observed in Mexico mainly on 1 and 2 November, when families honour deceased relatives.
What the procession looked like
Dancers, couples dressed as skeletal brides and grooms, and even costumed dogs passed through cheering crowds. Some participants wore illuminated outfits, while others showed off detailed embroidery and striking headpieces. Make-up artists worked behind the scenes to create the distinctive Catrina look, and a full face design took between 20 and 40 minutes.
Who La Catrina is
The parade celebrates La Catrina, a skeletal figure created more than a century ago by illustrator José Guadalupe Posada and later popularised by artist Diego Rivera. She began as a satire of European-inspired fashion and has since become one of Mexico's best-known cultural symbols.
What comes next
Mexico City is preparing a larger parade for 31 October, with more than 4,000 performers, 12 floats and two giant balloons expected. In the city's main square, the Zócalo, a 32-metre Catrina will stand surrounded by millions of marigolds. During Day of the Dead, families honour their dead with altars, flowers, candles and offerings, and the festivities combine music, creativity and remembrance, turning the commemoration of the dead into a celebration of life.
