Monday, October 22, 2018

Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events Monday, October 22


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CHECK OUT THE OCTOBER EVENTS SCHEDULE!  (scroll down)
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News from the Municipal Facebook site.....  (  FB page link)


With the successful Carrera Rosa / Pink Race-Walk, in Isla Mujeres the month for the fight against breast cancer continues

    There were more than 200 participants in the Carrera Rosa Race-Walk with categories of 5 Km. and 10 Km, as well as 1 Km, which was recreational. It began at the Fishermen's Monument and names of the winners are given.

     The proceeds from this race will be used to perform free mammograms for the women of Isla Mujeres, both on the island and in the Continental Zone, in order to detect this disease in a timely manner and give adequate follow-up to those suffering from it, according to the Director of CRIM, Dr. Xhanat Tzé González Mora. The event was organized by the City thru the DIF social service agency, and the CRIM, Comprehensive Rehabilitation Facility.

      She said that 250 mammograms have been provided, and by the end of the month the total is expected to reach 700. She expressed her appreciation to the mayor and to each of the runners, and noted that there was another event recently collecting donated hair to be used to make wigs for women who've lost their hair during cancer treatment.

      The DIF is collecting hygiene materials for the "Recolección Rosa" for women of limited resources and there will be a photographic event, "Pink Power", before the end of the month, dedicated to all the women who have fought to overcome breast cancer.  LINK   

 

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 FB News Sites about Isla Mujeres

  Tvisla Mujeres    


It's been thirteen years since Hurricane Wilma  LINK   Which became a Category 4 as it approached the Mexican coast  LINK  

It's been 13 years since Hurricane Wilma passed thru the Caribbean, which is remembered for its large losses and damage to the supplies of electricity and water for the island. It was unlike Gilberto (1988) because it lasted in the state of Quintana Roo for more than 52 hours.
   On the island, there was serious damage to homes, but only one death, of a Cuban fisherman. The CFE (Federal Electrical Commission) had hundreds of workers restoring the electrical supply in record time, which was difficult considering the number of electric poles that came down as a result of the strong winds.
    Authorities say it is the culture of prevention and preparedness, with experience about what to do before, during, and after a hurricane that has helped the islanders face these hydrometeorological events. You are reminded that the hurricane season official ends on November 15, but it cannot be ruled out that a hurricane could be delayed with its "appointment".

Isla Mujeres Al Dia    


Photos and article about successful Carrera Rosa 

The Cocteleros of Picus became the champions of the Northern Quintana Roo Baseball League when they beat the Cancun Rockies with a score of 9 to 3. Photos and VIDEO  


Noti Isla Mujeres   

Isla Mujeres Cocteleros are champions Photos

Thirteen years since Wilma   VIDEO  

Successful Carrera Rosa (photos & article)  Also, photos of start of the race

Small business owners are joining the hoteliers, restaurateurs, and merchants who are concerned and complaining about increased electrical charges  VIDEO  

IM Noticias   

It is confirmed that this season's basketball league competition will begin Saturday, October 27th, when the Cahuameros will compete at the Convention Center at 8pm against the Islanders of Cozumel (article and photo)

The competitors in the "Miss Latina Quintana Roo" will be presented in Isla Mujeres between the first and second week in November. The initial presentation will take place in Playa del Carmen on Nov. 3 and the final will be held there on Nov. 17th. (photo & article)


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 Link to Por Esto's Isla Mujeres section
Click on Spanish headline for the original article & photos


 Catwalk presentation planned for Miss Latina Quintana Roo competition 

Pasarela in Isla Mujeres  


Exhibition by artist Pako Magana  

Exposición de Pako Magaña



Successful Pink Walk/Run  

Exitosa carrera rosa



Isla Mujeres Cahuameros will receive the Cozumel team  

Cahuameros de Isla Mujeres recibirá a Cozumel


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On Friday & Saturday, there will be displays of Hanal Pixan (Mayan) altars on the Town Square, and on Nov. 1st, there will be exhibitions of altars from different regions of Mexico for Dia de los Muertos, at the Casa de la Cultura,after the silent procession. (These events also include musical & dance performances and competitions.)


  Dia de los Muertos is celebrated a little differently in Isla Mujeres, compared to some other regions of Mexico. Here, it includes the Mayan celebration of Hanal Pixan (Food for the Souls). Our town historian, Fidel Villanueva Madrid, wrote about these traditions (my translation):

     In the past, it was established that on the night of October 31, in the wee hours of the morning (la madrugada) the souls of the children return, and in the madrugada of the first of November, the adult souls return. They stay for eight days before returning to the afterlife. Respecting the oldest beliefs, these traditions focus on entertaining the spirits with offerings that consist of smells, tastes, colors, sounds, music, and prayers. This is also how you feed the gods. The traveling souls expect to find everything clean and tidy, and families spend several days cleaning graves, decorating them with flowers, and preparing an altar at home.
    During the eight days of celebrations, women do not embroider for fear of sewing the skin of a spirit. Men do not go out to hunt for fear of shooting the soul of someone who had been a hunter when they were alive. Black threads are tied around the wrists of newborns to protect them from evil spirits that haunt these days. On the eve of these celebrations, it is believed that the fine rain that often falls is used by the dead to wash their cloths before coming to the homes prepared for them on Earth. There are regional variations among the altars that are prepared for the dead.
Since 1993, the municipal government has encouraged community involvement in this ancient Mayan tradition that still prevails in Isla Mujeres. Since that year there have been altars to the dead in municipal building and the contests have taken place under the supervision of parents, teachers, and municipal authorities to ensure they respect the criteria and adhere strictly to tradition.
      Obtaining the items can be an economic issue and some items are difficult to find on the island. To avoid the expense of flowers, traditional foods, and colorful candles, people use items from the sea and menus based in seafood. On altars dedicated to fishermen and sailors, you will find nets and other gear associated with the sea. These contrast with the altars where the predominate foods and items are not from this region, but the people who have colonized the island in the past 40 years obey customs they brought from Veracruz, Tabasco and Chiapas.
     Seeking to adhere to the local traditions, the municipal department of Culture emphasizes that the altars must be customary for Hanal Pixan, which floods the island with the odors of mucbi pollo tamales, boiling corn, atole from fresh corn, candies made from pumpkin, and they mystical odors of copal or Mayan incense, which adds an atmosphere of religiosity to the events.
The tradition of celebrating the dead has its origin in pre-Columbian beliefs about life and death. Mayan ancestors believed that man was endowed with a soul or spirit whose name was Pixan, and that this vital fluid determined the vigor and energy of individuals, as well as their behavior. At death, that element, the soul, travels to a place that corresponds to their conduct in life. They believed the worlds of the living, of the dead, and of the gods were interconnected by roads that were fantastic snakes, used by souls to travel to heaven and return each year to be alive for eight days.
      The souls living in the highest, most paradise-like part of heaven were those of warriors, women who died in childbirth, priests, those who were sacrificed, and members of the highest social class. The passage of suicides was also protected, who were accompanied by the Goddess Xtab, where they found many joys and delights. In contrast, the lost souls travel to Mitnal, an inferior part of earth, descending through thick roots of a ceiba tree to a cenote leading to the bowels of the earth where the shadows fade.
     For the Maya, death was natural and normal. Upon death the person was shrouded, and since he will take a long journey, his mouth was filled with ground corn. The corpse was buried with some of their belongings, as well as offerings that correlated to the person's social ranking, occupation, and gender. A dog was buried to lead his Pixan in the difficult journey to eternity. The mourners cried silently to the dead during the day, and at night made loud cries and lamentations.
      It was believed that the souls of the deceased do not leave the earth immediately, but instead remain with their family for a few days without realizing their change in state. When they noticed this, they made the voyage to their rightful place. According to one of the Spaniards who chronicled the Conquest, Diego de Landa, Mayan commoners buried their dead under their homes or patios. The rulers and nobles were buried in spacious, elegant, richly adorned tombs, whose walls were inscribed with their pedigrees and virtues. The warriors, and most prestigious nobles and priests were incinerated, and their ashes were placed in urns shaped into pots or figurines and kept close to the skull to be revered. The skulls were baked, taken apart into halves, and arranged side by side. The front part was painted and decorated with stones. These skulls were kept on family alters, whose design represented the shape of the universe.
      All these Mayan practices and beliefs about death were altered with the arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. The conquerors were determined to impose their beliefs upon the natives and considered their rites to be pagan. The Maya continued to practice their rituals in secret, but since there were many similarities between the native and the invasive religions, this facilitated a synergism, which of course was dominated by Catholicism. This resulted in religious festivals such as Hanal Pixan, or Day of the Dead.

Although there are regional variations, the altars follow these guidelines:

Altars for Children
      The main level is a rectangular table covered with a cloth with colored, embroidered borders. Atop the table, or above it, is the family's cross and the images of the saints that are preferred by that household. Just below these are the pictures of the deceased children, and on the tablecloth are placed food,candy, clothing, toys, and other favorite objects of the absent child. Other gifts include a glass of water, because they will arrive thirsty, colorful candles, and yellow flowers of Xpujac, San Diego, and leaves of "ruda". The foods and treats will be specific to the age and preferences of the child and usually include tamales, pastries, marzipan shaped like animals, cookies, chocolates, and seasonal fruits. Incense is burned to attract the souls and the candles are lit to help the innocents find their way, and to avoid darkness where evil spirits dwell. The children remain from the madrugada (wee hours) of October 31 until November 7, which is also when the adults leave, and this period is called Ochovario, which is eight days of offerings and Catholic prayers.

Altars for Adults
     To welcome these souls, the table is covered with a white tablecloth with black embroidered borders. The procedure of placement of items is the same as with children, except the foods usually include relleno negro (a traditional turkey stew, served at special occasions), frijol con puerco (beans and pork, often eaten on Mondays), chilmole, escabeche oriental, (traditional dishes...explained in my food blog), cups of atole of chocolate and corn (a traditional gruel like drink), breads, flowers, large white candles, alcohol, tobacco, and the usual incense. In both cases, for the souls to receive the gifts, it is necessary to burn incense, to pray over the food, and to offer rosaries, accompanied by songs and music.

For the Souls who are alone
     For the souls who have no one to remember them, a small table is placed beside the family altar, which is covered with a white cloth, upon which is placed a big white candle, a glass of water, and a plate of food. In some cases it is customary to hang a woven basket at the entrance to the house and place the offerings inside, which is a common tradition enjoyed in Isla Mujeres these days. ~~~

When Mr. Villanueva was interviewed by Por Esto a few years ago, he said: "Our traditions give us a sense of permanence and belonging, while we are also a tourism community, and many of the tourists who come to this destination for Dia de Muertos will see the altars and the things related to these special days. The North Americans are attracted by these traditions; they ask and are surprised by our various espantos (ghosts/spirits/demons), including Chivo Brujo, la Xtabay, los Aluxes and a whole variety of others, while the American monsters, such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and Wolfman cannot hold a candle to them. We have a very vast culture that is rich in nuances, which is sometimes forgotten for the sake of being a cheap copy of North American Halloween."
Fidel Villanueva Madrid's Hanal Pixan article was published in Diario Respuesta on Nov. 2, 2013. Translation provided by Isla Mujeres News & Events/Ronda Winn Roberts.

The first photo shows an altar being prepared for public display, the second is from an altar competition, and the third is a close up of some offerings.



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On Thursday, Nov. 1st, following the candlelight procession from the cemetery, there will be a Catrina costume competition at the Casa de la Cultura.

Catrina: The Grand Dame of Death Who Inspired Rebellion & Revolution

 Who's Catrina? She's the Grand Dame of Death, popularized by Diego Rivera after he placed her in the center of this 50-foot mural. Diego dubbed her "La Catrina" from the slang "Catrin" for a rich person, who is elegant or well dressed. She is said to represent the comfortable and intimate relationship that Mexicans have with death, and has become an iconic figure associated with Dia de los Muertos. 
"Sunday Afternoon Dream in Alameda Park" representing 400 years of Mexican history and depicting the end of an era destroyed by the Revolutionary War, creating a modern, more equitable nation. Catrina is holding the hand of a 10 year-old Diego, and Frida stands behind them in traditional Mexican dress, while Catrina's creator, Posada stands on her left, offering his arm. 1948-Diego Rivera

 Below is the first drawing of "La Calavera Catrina" by Jose Guadalupe Posada in 1910, tho his original name for her was "La Calavera Garbancera", in a leaflet about native Mexicans who scorned their traditional culture, dressing in European clothing and wearing makeup to whiten their skin. It's said that Posada took his inspiration from the Aztec goddess of death, Mictecachihuatl, who reigned over the month of rituals and celebrations that eventually evolved into today's Dia de los Muertos.
  Posada's illustrations brought the stories of the day to the illiterate majority of impoverished Mexicans, encouraging the prevailing disdain for the regime of Porfirio Diaz, whose accomplishments in bringing financial stability  and modernization to Mexico pale against his government's repression, corruption, extravagance, and obsession with all things European. Concentration of fantastic wealth in the hands of the privileged few brewed discontent in the hearts of the suffering many, leading to the 1910 rebellion that toppled Diaz in 1911 and became the Mexican Revolution. Posada's caricature of a high-society lady as a skeleton wearing only a fancy French-style hat became a sort of satirical obituary for the privileged class, and a reminder that everyone is equal in the end. 
It says: Those Garbanceras (Natives who mimic Europeans) who today are coated with makeup will end up as deformed calaveras/skulls.

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Fine dining a few steps away at Da Luisa or try the neighborhood eateries a couple blocks farther. Within ten minutes walk are a variety of restaurants including Mango Cafe, Brisas, Manolitos, La Chatita, Green Verde, Kash Kechen Chuc, and the large department store-grocery , Chedraui. Visit marinas, bars, & beach clubs that are minutes away by bike or on foot. Attend Yoga classes a couple villas away at hotelito Casa Ixchel. Fresh juice, produce & tortillas a few blocks away in the village, as well as a variety of other stores and small local restaurants. It takes 20-30  minutes to walk downtown.
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Full moon rising over the Caribbean 

Oct. 24   6:39
Oct. 25   7:21
Oct. 26   8:07
Oct. 27   8:58
 Oct. 28    9:52
  Oct. 29   10:51 
 Oct. 30   11:52
Painting by Pamela Haase
Sunset  ~6:30 to ~6:10p (beginning vs end of month)
Sunrise  ~6:40
October Events
Provided by MaraVilla Caribe & Isla Mujeres Daily News & Events

Plogging events to clean up the island are held on Saturdays LINK  and here's the Accion Isla LINK  who are having events associated with project RESCATE.

Monday, Oct. 1 Lighting of the pink lights at the Town Square for Breast Cancer Awareness Month at 8:30 pm


Saturday, Oct. 6 Plogging Clean-up Event. Location TBA

Sunday, Oct. 7 All Star Baseball game 11a at El Pescador stadium (in front of Chedraui). 

Monday, Oct. 8: 43nd Anniversary of the Free & Sovereign State of Quintana Roo

Tuesday, Oct. 9  Day of Fishermen

Wednesday, Oct. 10 Tournament Finale for the municipal inter-company Futbol Rapido/Fast Soccer competition and the stadium in Salina Chica. The game for 3rd place is at 8 between the "Taxistas" and the "Dolphin Discover" teams, and the contest for 1st & 2nd starts at 9p between "Bepensa" and "Garrafon".  

Thursday, Oct. 11 Performances on the Town Square 6p-9p by students as part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the middle school, "Benito Juarez"

Friday, Oct. 12 Student race from 7a-8a from the middle school "Benito Juarez" to Playa Centro beach, where there will be activities and music until 1:30 as the finale for the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the middle school, "Benito Juarez"

Friday, Oct. 12  Dia de la Raza

Saturday, Oct. 13 Plogging Clean-up Event. Location TBA

Friday, Oct. 19  Guitarists performing at the Casa de la Cultura at 7pm

Saturday, Oct. 20 Plogging Clean-up Event. Location TBA

Saturday, Oct. 20 at 8pm and Sunday, Oct. 21 at noon at the Convention Center: Isla Mujeres Cahuameros VS Escuela Modelo (a Merida University team). Grand inaugural game of the season!

Sunday, Oct. 21, starting at 7am at Playa Centro, the Pink Race. 1km, 5km, and 10km.
Funds will be used to help women obtain testing for timely detection of breast cancer.


Sunday, Oct. 21  Anniversary of the birth of Ramon Bravo

Friday, Oct. 26  Festival of the Living for the Dead, Hanal Pixan Altar Competition on the Town Square in 2 categories: Hoteliers & Merchants, and the General Public, with cash prizes for the latter and recognition for the former. At 8p with two dance troupes performing..2 categories: Merchants & Hoteliers and the General Public. Register at the Casa de la Cultrua 9a-4p. Surprise Prizes!

 Saturday, Oct. 27 Plogging Clean-up Event. Location TBA

Saturday, Oct. 27 Altars contest for the governmental agencies on the Town Square at 8p with a singer & a dance troupe performing.


Wednesday, Oct. 31 Halloween on Hidalgo after dark. Bring lil toys & such and expect to be mobbed by cute kiddos & enjoy the clever costumes. There's also a golf cart/scooter procession planned with Chedraui as the meeting point at 6pm to toss treats & participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and to wear costumes.

Thursday, Nov. 1 All Saint's Day   Dia de los Muertos
Festival for The Souls of the Dead with Dance, Music, and traditions. The procession will begin at 6pm beside the downtown Cemetery, going down Hidalgo, and ending at the Casa de a Cultura. There will be an exhibition of altars from different states of Mexico and a presentation of a Un Tzompantli (rack of skulls), performances by artists from the schools of dance and music, and a competition of Catrina costumes. Coordinated by Jean Piaget school. Most of the participants in the procession are in catrina makeup or wearing regional clothing, and the rest are in white, and they carry candles.



Friday, Nov. 2  All Soul's Day   Dia de los Muertos


At this time of year, Mexican families remember & celebrate their departed relatives. Hanal Pixan is the name of the Mayan celebration. Altars are made with photos of the deceased, where offerings of favorite foods and items are placed, copal incense is burned, and marigold flower petals are often used.
        All Saints Day & All Souls Day, Nov. 1 & 2, are the Dias de los Muertos...one for children, one for adults, when families visit graves & clean & decorate them. On the island, these are private moments in the cemeteries, not public celebrations like in many parts of Mexico.
Try some seasonal Pibi Pollo tamales & Pan de los Muertos pastry.

 Sunday, Nov. 4 Noches Magicas performances on the Town Square at 8p with a Festival of the Living for the Dead will feature two dance troupes and a Catrina costume contest with a Children's category and an Open category and cash prizes.

  
  Sources for Weather Information:
LINK to Civil Protection Q Roo weather bulletin  (Spanish)
LINK to Mexico National Weather Service (Spanish)
 LINK to satellite images for the Mexico National Weather Service (Yucatan peninsula is under Satellite GOES Este, I recommend "Animacion")
 LINK to GOES East Band 16 GIF (animation)
LINK to a private weather station on Isla Mujeres     
LINK to Tropic Watch (in English)
LINK to NHC in US (in English)
LINK to Tropical Tidbits (in English)


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