US-Día de Muertos at Rockefeller Center

Posted by aolvera@casadragones.com BigCommerce on 28th Sep 2022

October, 2021

After nearly six long decades, we were honored and humbled to be a part of bringing back Mexico Week to New York City, in honor of Día de Muertos, Mexican culture and heritage. 

Displayed at Rockefeller Center, The Consulate General of Mexico in New York and its Cultural Institute celebrated Mexico Week: Día de Muertos through sponsorship and generosity from Casa Dragones, INTERprotección, Visit Mexico, and the State of Oaxaca.

Each year from November 1 to November 2, Dia de Muertos is celebrated by families to welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion. 
Dating back to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, it was believed that upon dying, a person traveled to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead. That person’s soul could finally reach Mictlán, the final resting place when they went through nine challenging levels. A Nahuatl ritual of providing food, water, and tools to aid the deceased is what inspired the contemporary Day of the Dead practice we all know and love—leaving food or other offerings on their loved ones' graves or at the makeshift altars called ofrendas in their homes.

From October 22 to November 2, Mexico Week: Dia de Muertos was celebrated at Rockefeller Center, where a series of large-scale activations were on display. These included the installation of a traditional ofrenda, a display altar dedicated to those who passed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, accompanied by two alebrijes, brightly colored sculptures of fantastical creatures from Oaxaca. Additionally featured were a floral installation for the iconic Rockefeller Center bronze statue Atlas, an exhibition of catrinas, elegantly dressed skeleton figures synonymous with the Day of the Dead, and a tianguis, an open-air market filled with food and handcrafted, artisanal goods.
The open-air market, tianguis, featured artisans like La contenta, La Newyorkina, La Providencia, South Philly Barbacoa, and of course—Tequila Casa Dragones. Guests learned about our commitment to Mexican craftsmanship and the art of sipping tequila with the ability to personalize their own bottle of Casa Dragones Joven with calligraphy in honor of Day of the Dead.
The unveiling of the sculptures and catrinas was presented by Jorge Islas, Consul General of Mexico, Esteban Moctezuma, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, Alejandro Murat, Governor of Oaxaca, and EB Kelly, Managing Director and Head of Rockefeller Center.
Dating back to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, it was believed that upon dying, a person traveled to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead. That person’s soul could finally reach Mictlán, the final resting place when they went through nine challenging levels. A Nahuatl ritual of providing food, water, and tools to aid the deceased is what inspired the contemporary Day of the Dead practice we all know and love—leaving food or other offerings on their loved ones' graves or at the makeshift altars called ofrendas in their homes.

From October 22 to November 2, Mexico Week: Dia de Muertos was celebrated at Rockefeller Center, where a series of large-scale activations were on display. These included the installation of a traditional ofrenda, a display altar dedicated to those who passed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, accompanied by two alebrijes, brightly colored sculptures of fantastical creatures from Oaxaca. Additionally featured were a floral installation for the iconic Rockefeller Center bronze statue Atlas, an exhibition of catrinas, elegantly dressed skeleton figures synonymous with the Day of the Dead, and a tianguis, an open-air market filled with food and handcrafted, artisanal goods.