Slightly Belated Hanal Pixan celebration at the boys' school

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 Hanal Pixan (also written as Janal Pixan) isn't exactly Dia de los Muertos, but it's on the same day and looks a lot the same. Here's the office Yucantan Gov explanation, run through Google Translate.

The Janal Pixan, or "food of the souls", is a tradition of the Mayan people that is carried out to remember in a special way the friends and relatives who went ahead on the eternal journey. It is a special event for the relatives of the deceased, because they know that, on these days, from October 31 to November 2, the souls "receive permission" to visit their relatives.

The first day is dedicated to children and they call it u janal palal. The second day, November 1, is dedicated to the dead adults and is called u janal nucuch uinicoob, and the third day is the u janal pixanoob called in some places misa pixan, because on that day a mass dedicated to the souls is applied, usually in the cemetery of the town.

The tradition includes several rites, but the main one consists of setting up a table that functions as an altar, lit with wax candles, under the trees in the courtyard and near the graves of the relatives, where typical food of the season is placed ... All this adorned with candles, flowers, rue branches and photographs of the deceased.

Because school was out on Friday, the school celebrated today instead and JAMES SPOKE IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL. Granted, he only said six words ("El pib es un tamal grande"), but he DID it and he was proud of himself afterwards. He's so nervous about public speaking and I'm so proud of him.

Joseph's teacher sent out pictures afterward





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