Comments on: Day of the Dead 2008 http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm Online magazine about living, working and traveling in Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:26:35 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: alexa smith http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm/comment-page-1#comment-110968 alexa smith Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:11:37 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm#comment-110968 Hiya, I'm doing a dissertation on the Yucatec Maya identity and the Hanal Pixan/ day of the dead celebration is one of my case studies. I'm from england so can't really go and do field work at short notice but was wondering if you had any insight into whether when the Maya celebrate the day of the dead they see it as representing their pre-Hispanic origins and ancient beleifs in the dead or whether it is a more post-conquest celebration. Thanks Alexa Hiya,
I’m doing a dissertation on the Yucatec Maya identity and the Hanal Pixan/ day of the dead celebration is one of my case studies. I’m from england so can’t really go and do field work at short notice but was wondering if you had any insight into whether when the Maya celebrate the day of the dead they see it as representing their pre-Hispanic origins and ancient beleifs in the dead or whether it is a more post-conquest celebration.

Thanks

Alexa

]]> By: Mikayla http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60598 Mikayla Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:48:28 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm#comment-60598 This was very useful when I needed an article on Day of the dead at school. Thank you for providing this information. Gracias! This was very useful when I needed an article on Day of the dead at school. Thank you for providing this information. Gracias!

]]> By: destiny rose http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60583 destiny rose Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:00:42 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm#comment-60583 This web site is so cool!!!!! This web site is so cool!!!!!

]]> By: Dixieboy http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60212 Dixieboy Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:30:26 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life/day-of-the-dead-2008.htm#comment-60212 WOW! After vising Merida during Independence Day celebrations, I sure would like to be there for this one too. Sounds like just as much fun and great food as we had during the days of Independence Day celebrations. Much THANKS to all our new friends in Merida, and especially Working Gringa for her advice and suggestions, and her wonderful new home tour! I have not had time to put thoughts or a journal of our visit together as work has been a royal *&)^*%)&&..if you know what I mean! With the Holidays approaching much too fast, I fear a journal about our visit will have to wait until after the new year. But, again, we had a wonderful time. At no time did we fell uncomfortable or threatened, even during the Independence celebrations. We met some of the most wonderful people; they laughed with us for our poor Spanish, and we all laughed together when they tried some of their poor English! But we always were able to get what we wanted even though our Spanish was very poor! I know some of you may disagree, but I found the locals to be very friendly, respecting each other as well as us and the traffic, although hectic and appearing to have no rules, was not so bad. They were always willing to let someone into the line of traffic with little horn blaring or hand signals. One rather terrifying and very funny moment came as we were coming back from Progreso. We rented a car in Cancun for our use while there. It was a brand new car and only had the temporary paper licenses plate in the back window. Even though the expiration date was in large numbers, it was very faint and even I had to look twice very close to ensure it was valid. As we returned from Progreso, we wanted to go to Commercial Mexicana (I think that's the spelling!). Unfortunately, due to the driver's lack of attention, we missed the turn, so I made a quick turn up a side road, and was about to make a U-turn when I noticed a police car sitting behind some low shrugs. Clearly, he had seen me make the quick turn and saw that I was about to make a U-turn. Unfortunately, I was already committed to the U-turn when I saw him. As I made the U-turn, the police pulled out of his parking place and followed me through the U-turn. I thought, well, here I go to jail! He followed me a short distance and turned on his blue lights. I pulled over, got my rental paperwork and got out of the car. The officer on the passenger side was getting out, an older fellow and he was putting his glasses on. He greeted me in Spanish, and I returned the greeting and asked if he spoke English, and of course the answer was no! He walked up to the back of the car, bent over very close to the temporary licenses, examined it, then stood back erect, removed his glasses, smiled, then extended his hand for a hand shake. He shook my hand and began speaking. I could understand enough Spanish to understand that they had seen me make the turns, but were not concerned about that, but was concerned about the temporary licenses so they pulled me over to check it. With my knees knocking, he and the other two officers in the car smiled and waved as the officer got back into the car. They then backed away from our car and drove on down the road! I had to sit in the car for a few moments for everything to calm down. Then we went on the Commercial Mexicana! Other than that one event, our whole trip was truly wonderful and we have certainly found a new home. We look forward to a return trip, maybe longer, and hopefully, very SOON!!! Best to all! Dave WOW! After vising Merida during Independence Day celebrations, I sure would like to be there for this one too. Sounds like just as much fun and great food as we had during the days of Independence Day celebrations.

Much THANKS to all our new friends in Merida, and especially Working Gringa for her advice and suggestions, and her wonderful new home tour! I have not had time to put thoughts or a journal of our visit together as work has been a royal *&)^*%)&&..if you know what I mean!

With the Holidays approaching much too fast, I fear a journal about our visit will have to wait until after the new year. But, again, we had a wonderful time. At no time did we fell uncomfortable or threatened, even during the Independence celebrations. We met some of the most wonderful people; they laughed with us for our poor Spanish, and we all laughed together when they tried some of their poor English! But we always were able to get what we wanted even though our Spanish was very poor! I know some of you may disagree, but I found the locals to be very friendly, respecting each other as well as us and the traffic, although hectic and appearing to have no rules, was not so bad. They were always willing to let someone into the line of traffic with little horn blaring or hand signals.

One rather terrifying and very funny moment came as we were coming back from Progreso. We rented a car in Cancun for our use while there. It was a brand new car and only had the temporary paper licenses plate in the back window. Even though the expiration date was in large numbers, it was very faint and even I had to look twice very close to ensure it was valid. As we returned from Progreso, we wanted to go to Commercial Mexicana (I think that’s the spelling!). Unfortunately, due to the driver’s lack of attention, we missed the turn, so I made a quick turn up a side road, and was about to make a U-turn when I noticed a police car sitting behind some low shrugs. Clearly, he had seen me make the quick turn and saw that I was about to make a U-turn. Unfortunately, I was already committed to the U-turn when I saw him. As I made the U-turn, the police pulled out of his parking place and followed me through the U-turn. I thought, well, here I go to jail! He followed me a short distance and turned on his blue lights. I pulled over, got my rental paperwork and got out of the car.

The officer on the passenger side was getting out, an older fellow and he was putting his glasses on. He greeted me in Spanish, and I returned the greeting and asked if he spoke English, and of course the answer was no! He walked up to the back of the car, bent over very close to the temporary licenses, examined it, then stood back erect, removed his glasses, smiled, then extended his hand for a hand shake. He shook my hand and began speaking. I could understand enough Spanish to understand that they had seen me make the turns, but were not concerned about that, but was concerned about the temporary licenses so they pulled me over to check it.

With my knees knocking, he and the other two officers in the car smiled and waved as the officer got back into the car. They then backed away from our car and drove on down the road! I had to sit in the car for a few moments for everything to calm down. Then we went on the Commercial Mexicana!

Other than that one event, our whole trip was truly wonderful and we have certainly found a new home. We look forward to a return trip, maybe longer, and hopefully, very SOON!!!

Best to all!

Dave

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