For the second consecutive year, the Mexican Embassy in Singapore has teamed up with the Singapore Mexican Association and the Mexican community to launch the Mexican Day of the Dead exhibition at the National Museum. In view of the popularity of last year's exhibition, this year's exhibition opening hours will be extended until 2 November and will be free to the local public.
The annual Day of the Dead is an important traditional holiday in Mexico that inherits Indian customs.
The Day of the Dead exhibit houses a central pyramid surrounded by unique Mexican foods, flowers, and gods. (Courtesy of the National Museum)
The Indian natives' Day of the Dead falls between July and August, when the harvest season is also the season, and they share the joy of harvest with their deceased relatives and ancestors with song, dance and joy. They believe that as long as the dead are treated kindly and the departed souls return to celebrate the festival, the coming year will be blessed, disasters and diseases will be avoided, and a great harvest will be ushered in.
During the Spanish rule, All Saints' Day was combined with the Day of the Dead in the West to give rise to today's Mexican Day of the Dead. According to Mexican folk custom, November 1 is the "Day of the Young Spirits" to remember the deceased children, and November 2 is the "Day of the Spirits" to remember the deceased adults.
According to Mexican folk custom, November 1 is the "Young Spirits Day" to remember the deceased children, and November 2 is the "Spirit Day" to commemorate the deceased adults. (AFP)
Agustín Garcia-Lopez, Mexico's ambassador to Singapore, said many ethnic groups have customs of remembering the dead, such as the Chinese Qingming Festival. But what sets Mexican Day of the Dead apart is that Mexicans choose to remember those who have lost in a joyful atmosphere rather than solemn rituals.
The exhibition presents altars erected by Mexicans during the celebration of the Day of the Dead. The middle of the exhibition hall consists of a 360-degree pyramid and a variety of Mexican features, including jalapeña, cocoa, vanilla, corn, beans, avocados, tomatoes, papayas, orangutans and marigolds.
What sets Mexican Day of the Dead apart is that Mexicans choose to remember those who have lost in a joyful atmosphere over solemn ritual sacrifices (AFP)
The exhibition also incorporates gods from ancient cultures in central Mexico, such as God Quetzalcoatl and God Mictecacihuatl.
Interestingly, the works in this exhibition also involve the participation of local people, such as the portrait of the goddess of harvest and the paintings in the exhibition center, which are all painted by local Indian compatriots, which also symbolizes the cooperation and friendship between Mexico and Singapore over the years.