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The Day of the Dead is one of the most important and popular celebrations in the Mexican country. As we know, the Day of the Dead is celebrated to honor and commemorate deceased family members. However, each region has many different traditions as Hanal Pixán in the Yucatán Península is a popular celebration among the Mayans.
Hanal Pixán is a Mayan tradition that means “Food of souls” and it’s celebrated by habitants of the Yucatán Peninsula to invoke the dead to coexist with their loved ones for 3 days.
Hanal Pixán takes place from October 31 to November 2nd and offers traditional food to the deceased.
This tradition includes Mayan rituals, but the principal thing is to make three altars. The first day is known as “Hanal Palal” and is dedicated to the children, the second day is known as “Hanal Nucuch Uinicoob” dedicated to adults, and the third day is known as “Hanal Pixanoob” which is a mass dedicated to the souls in the biggest cemetery to the region.
According to Maya mythology, time is cyclical, and the Earth is a rectangular plane upon which there exist 13 heavens and 9 underworlds, while life was the 'Pixán' that rotated through time.
Therefore, “Pixán” or “the soul’s man” was considered a gift of the gods. The ancient Mayas buried their deceased in the backyard of their houses to worship them.
The Day of the Dead and Hanal Pixán are related but are not the same due to existing differences between both.
Hanal Pixán is a tradition that includes Mayan rituals. The families put three different altars and each must be below the trees with food, traditional seasonal fruits, candles flowers, and photos. The offering is made depending on the economy of each family, but they can put decorations like fruits, clay, baskets, jícaras, and wooden objects.
This tradition is celebrated for three days: October 31st, November 1st, and November 2nd. When the people put the offering, they have to do a ritual. The candles represent the people to whom the altar is dedicated. They invoke the souls to know they are remembered and stay with them. When the candles are lit, the familiars must mention the deceased’s name and say “I offer you the light to come here and coexist with us. I offer you water, gruel, and corn.”
On the first day dedicated to deceased children, the altar is decorated with a brightly embroidered tablecloth. It also includes offerings of food, candies, and toys. Yellow xpujuc flowers, red xtés, and Virginias are used for decoration.
On the second day, altars dedicated to deceased adults are commonly lit with wax candles. They are adorned with flowers, branches of rue, photographs, and traditional food items such as atole, pibes or Mucbipollos, xec, sweet papaya, tamales de x'pelón, sweet bread, and balché, an intoxicating drink made from the bark of a typical regional tree.
This rite, also known as the 'octava,' is a gathering or celebration held eight days after Hanal Pixán. Rows of candles are lit at the doors of homes during this event so that the souls can find their way as they depart from the villages after this festival.
As with all Mexican traditions, Hanal Pixán has specific dishes from the Yucatan Peninsula. This dish is “Mucbipollo” also known as “Pib” which is a big tamal prepared with cornmeal and lard dough filled with chicken and pork, seasoned with tomato and chili, wrapped in banana leaves, and cooked underground with firewood and stones.
Hanal Pixán is a special celebration in Mexico to remember and invoke your loved ones but also to connect with the deceased family and stay a moment with them. If you visit Chichen Itza in October and November, you must know and witness this beautiful tradition of the region.