It has generated an important and beautiful tradition called Xantolo, 2000 years ago by the Celts, which commemorates the “Party of the Souls”. October 31st the day of the little angels (deceased children) and November 1st dedicated to the deceased adults.
This celebration has several things in particular; the costumes, the symbols of the dead, the decoration, the music and the dance; as the main activity of offering and celebration towards this soul. Here I explain briefly, what this celebration is about and all that the dance symbolizes for this celebration.
THE DANCE AS A SYMBOLIC ACT OF TRADITION, REMEMBRANCE AND CELEBRATION.
Particularly and although it is hard to believe, this celebration is prepared from the month of June. It is an offering of corn and other fruits that give off an exquisite smell, which are sown since the summer by the “huasteco” citizens. The party is decorated with these fruits, embroidered tablecloths, special flowers, arches with sugar cane; that remember the moments lived in the lands of these deceased souls.
With this tributed, the festivity just begins, because the “Xantolo” dance actually starts. A dance performed by only men, with different characters, both male and female, who recreate a farce in front of an altar designed for the departed souls. This, besides being a symbolic act, is used to ask for good harvests and to give thanks for all that has been lived.
It is particular that, at an international level, this tradition has been propagated for so many years (with certain adaptations such as the American one), but the objective remains the same, to make offerings to the departed souls and remember their life with joy.
THE MAGICAL POWER OF DANCE
To socialize, to move, to get to know each other, to enjoy, to offer, to give back, to transmit energy. Each and every one of these objectives define dance. This has been for many years a means of artistic expression, inviting the union and connection between cultures. And that is why through the years, dances and musical representations such as the well-known “Llorona”, for its long and significant tradition or the iconic and more contemporary song with which Michael Jackson, revived many dead in a very creative way, through his famous song “Thriller”. Halloween is more alive than ever.
These and other traditional and well-known dances are one of the most influential cultural legacies of each country worldwide in our history. And more and more it is evolving in a very positive way, with new genres, new musicians who bet their lives to study this at a professional level, new instruments, with more innovative sounds; and the most beautiful thing that has been developed, the different fusions of genres that have emerged thanks to the love for music, dance and art.
THE MUSICAL FUSION HAS BEEN SO STRONG THAT THERE IS ALREADY A SALSA VERSION OF “THRIILLER”.
Why do phenomena like this happen? One simple reason. Because music is life, and salsa always wants to welcome all those who feel identified and want to know the Latin culture, in every sense. Its people, its culture, its history; the trajectory of salsa describes in 100%, key historical moments of many countries.
That is why today, on the Day of the Dead, we pay a warm and beautiful tribute to all those deceased salsa souls who have left us a beautiful legacy, their life, their history, their love for salsa. Because we know that the best gift we can give to all these artists is to continue enjoying their music, dancing, composing and enjoying. And with that you are all welcome to join our community of salsa dancers in our salsa classes, to find your flow and transmit it around the world. Start your classes with Salsaflow. We are waiting for you.
References:
https://slp.gob.mx/secult/Paginas/Septiembre%202020/M%C3%A1scaras-de-la-Danza-de-los-Huehues.aspx#:~:text=Se%20baila%20durante%20el%20Xantolo,pintada%20a%20manera%20de%20m%C3%A1scara.https://www.gob.mx/inpi/articulos/xantolo-en-la-huasteca-hidalguense#:~:text=Entre%20las%20fiestas%20m%C3%A1s%20importantes,algunos%20representan%20a%20personajes%20femeninos.
