For the third consecutive year Top Mexico Real Estate hosted our annual Catrina Fest. This beautiful and powerful tradition was celebrated with a parade of giant Catrinas marching down 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen. The Top Mexico crew made frequent stops to mingle with the gathering crowds, engage in photo sessions and hand out candy to children and adults who had dressed up for the celebrations.
The event happened on October 31st, coinciding with the traditional day for Halloween. It preceded the Day of the Dead which is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Putting on parade like this is the way in which our real estate company in the Riviera Maya involves everyone in a beautiful and powerful tradition every year.
 So, where does the idea for Catrina Fest come from? It was born from the imagination of Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada  in 1913. Every year thousands of Mexicans paint their faces in her image, build sculptures, get tattoos, and decorate with her face throughout. The original work has evolved significantly in the past hundred years. She is reborn from every person’s imagination but represents the same spirit has always inspired art, poems, songs, and people.
Top Mexico Real Estate´s Catrina is male or female and measures 3 meters tall. Usually she is a skeleton but with the growing influence of the American holiday of Halloween she´s taken to dressing up in more non-traditional attires but deep down, she’s still the representation of death.
The large group gathered around 32nd Street and began their march down 5th Avenue. The Catrina´s were joined by a large contingent of Top Mexico employees and their families who carried banners, banged on drums, and occasionally stopped to make new friends. People were out in great numbers, and it was fun to saw the mixture of locals and tourists who came out in costume to interact with our group. Some were in Catrina-like makeup and others in an assortment of creative outfits, all eager to pose for random photos by excited 5th Avenue party-goers who flashed their cameras for the posing participants.
The parade carried on until 9pm, ending on 5th Avenue and Constituyentes where a large crowd gathered to meet the creators behind the amazing Catrinas. The mix of locals and tourists  indulged their paparazzi instincts in a spontaneous photo shoot. It was a fun time where dance, and indulge in the amazing culture that this festive time of year represents.
Athe gigantic Catrinas and their creators for a fun-filled family night out. Come have fun with them, dance, and indulge in the amazing culture that this festive time of year represents.
Top Mexico your best source for real estate information about the Mayan Riviera and a contributor to the rich cultural traditions that make living in Playa del Carmen fun and exciting.Â