HANAL PIXAN

 

HANAL PIXAN.

This documentary would try to spread the importance of a traditional festival: Hanal Pixan…Food of the Souls, which takes place in Yucatan and reflects the history and culture of the Mayan people. It is an important original Mayan celebration of 3 days of festivities (from October 31^st to November 2^nd ).

Before these three days, the Walk of the Souls takes place where people paint their faces and dress up as a catrina, the traditional skeleton woman. The first day is dedicated to deceased children, so toys and sweets are included on the altar. The second day is dedicated to dead adults. On the third day, a mass dedicated to all the dead is generally held in the local cemetery.

Other different events are included throughout the week such as decorated streets and parks, music and night shows in the Central Plaza, and other parks in the center of Mérida.

Families prepare the traditional Mayan dish called Pib, a chicken tamale (wrapped in banana leaves) that is cooked underground in a hole for several hours before being placed on the altar.

This documentary would highlight the atmosphere of this festivity, filming "The Walk of the Souls", the altars, and interviewing young, elderly, and locals to gather opinions on the value of protecting our traditional customs.

Carmen A. Calderón R.

Festival de las ánimas

 This documentary would examine the importance of festival de las ánimas in Mérida, Yucatán. This festival also is called Hanal Pixán and is so important because the people remember their ancestors. During October thirty-one until November second this festival celebrates. The state council organize the “festival de las ánimas” in which the main objective is to take a tour in the streets downtown in which you can see all the altars of the ancestors of the different families. The tour realizes between the Church of the Hermitage and the General Cemetery. 

The aim of the documentary would be to film the festival in order to show the culture of Mérida, Yucatán and all the activities which involve this celebration. 

During the festival, you can see altars exposition, a sample of Mayan ceremonies, regional gastronomical sample, reading of stories and legends of the region, typical dance and guided tours in the general cemetery. These dates are important here so in that way the documentary is going to talk about it and show all the activities which concerned. 

The documentary would highlight all the history of this celebration. First, we are going to talk about why this celebration is realised then we are going to film Merida’s downtown and the streets in which the tour realizes. In the same way, the typical dance will be shown all this documentary is going to have typical music. 

Veracruz Carnival (PROPOSAL)

Veracruz Carnival is said to be Mexico's best carnival! This documentary would examine the importance of the Veracruz Carnival in our country. Carnival is some of the most exuberant celebrations that you will find in Mexico. It is a celebration that unites everyone regardless of class or ethnic background and gives them an opportunity to enjoy life, have fun, eat and drink in excess, and party until the break of dawn! 

The city of Veracruz practically shuts down during carnival. The aim of the documentary would be to film the Veracruz Carnival in order to encourage hundreds of thousands of visitors from all throughout Mexico descend on it to join in the carnival celebrations.

The Zocalo is where many carnival activities take place, this place is filled with amazing parties, parades, live music, and events. The documentary would highlight the main events of Veracruz Carnival which are the 'Preludio de carnaval', 'The burning of the Bad Mood', 'Coronation of the Children', 'Coronation of Reyes de la Alegria', 'The Carnival Parades' and 'The Burial of Juan Carnival'.

The dates of the carnival are not always the same because it depends on the dates of Easter, which is based on the lunar calendar. With this documentary we hoped Carnival would provide Veracruz with an opportunity to celebrate after years of social strife and unite people of different classes and ethnic backgrounds!.