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Unique Traditions: Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead

Like so many things in Mexican culture, death is a many layered concept. For some people it’s viewed as a time to solemnly honor those who aren’t with us anymore. This includes anyone from close relatives, pets and even strangers. In this particular point of view of death, people place altars better known as “ofrendas” which have several key elements to make them as authentic as possible.

Let’s talk about ofrendas

Ofrendas are mainly decorated with Papel picado, which is thin colorful paper with cut outs that resemble skulls. Another main element you’ll find in ofrendas, and pretty much anywhere around town in the months of October and November, is a flower called Cempasuchil. This orange flower is arranged in certain ways that “guide” the dead. But what truly makes it a personal altar, is placing things that the person we are honoring loved.

Themed ofrendas

A common theme for public space ofrendas, are celebrities. Such is the case of the Coyoacan house of Emilio Fernandez. Famously known for his place in Mexican cinema in the first half of the twentieth century, “El Indio” Fernandez is still talked about today for the transformation of his house every year into a huge altar for many celebrities. With the elements previously mentioned drowning the walls and hallways of the house, you will find many Mexican pop culture icons being honored like Maria Felix, Cantiflas, Pedro Infante and Frida Kahlo. It’s a must in your trip around Coyoacan to stop by and take a tour.

Calaveritas

The other side of the day of the day of the Dead celebrations includes shedding a light on this serious topic with humor. Poems called calaveritas are written in rhyme with topics that include death as a humorous character that encounters people who either get taken away or are able to cleverly escape their fate through word play. It’s not uncommon also to escape their fate by offering death a drink. This is another clear example of how, rather than shying away from this somber topic, Mexicans love to see death in the face and meet it with a life well lived.

Not to be confused with Halloween, the day of the Dead, is an authentic Mexican experience that is best lived through those who inhabit this country. It’s definitely worth the visit to Mexico during this time of year, to be able to see, taste and enjoy all of the colorful celebrations surrounding this incredible tradition.

 

Ofrenda at Nima Local House 2017.

A Culinary Experience At Formula 1 in Mexico City

When great food and adrenaline meet!

For those that didn’t know, the round eighteen of the 2017 FIA Formula 1 season will take place on October 27th – 29th at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico.  At Nima, we couldn’t be more excited as this is one of our favorite events of the year! We love this event because it offers an exceptional experience, and this time we would like to focus on one in particular: the culinary one.

For the second year in a row, the F1 organizers in Mexico will hold an event called “El sabor de la fórmula 1”, which includes a culinary experience inspired by automobiles and F1.

Mexican food and adrenaline, sounds like a good idea, don’t you think?

So from the 16th of this month till the 29th, a selected group of chefs and restaurants will be creating automobile adrenaline inspired dishes for true F1 fans to enjoy during this great event.  

This year more than 100 restaurants will be participating. You can find them here:http://www.mexicogp.mx/elsaborf1/  

And if you’re a social media obsessed person like we are, there’s a contest going on! If you go to one of the restaurants participating between the 16th and the 22nd of this month and share a photo of one of their plates on social media using the hashtag #ElSaborF1 you could be one of the lucky winners of a F1 double pass and a Paul McCartney double pass for his concert in Mexico City on the 28th of this month! 

By the way, at Nima we have partnered with Foundation Techo and Kaluz to build houses for those who were affected by the September Earthquakes in Mexico. We are collecting donations that will be used to build houses in strategic locations where help is much needed. Foundation Kaluz has pledged to double all of our donations in order to make as many houses as possible. In an effort to encourage guests at Nima to donate, we have decided to offer 20% discount to those that send your donations receipts to hey@hotelnima.com! WE CAN DO THIS!

 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE 

 

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