If you’re planning a Puerto Vallarta visit in November, you’ll be happy to know that the weather will be great. While the summer months are hot and humid, great weather returns to Vallarta in November. You can expect warm daytime temperatures around 31°C, and most days are very dry and sunny. In addition, one of the most important festivities in Mexico is Día de Muertos (known as Day of the Dead in English), which is celebrated on November 1st and November 2nd. In Puerto Vallarta, the Day of the Dead is a week-long festival that includes displays of beautifully adorned shrines or altars along the Malecon boardwalk and throughout town as well. The week-long festivities also include folkloric ballets, mariachi performances, Catrinas (painted skeleton mask) contests, and more. It’s a wonderful traditional cultural event that both locals and tourists will enjoy experiencing. Keep reading more to learn about Puerto Vallarta during November.
Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
In addition to the weather becoming nicer, the Dia de Los Muertos celebration is the biggest event to occur during the month of November in Puerto Vallarta and around Mexico. The origins of the holiday actually date back hundreds of years to the time of the Aztecs during the 1300’s to the 1500’s when they celebrated a month-long celebration during summer in honor of Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. However, when Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico in the 1500’s, they introduced Catholicism and the tradition slowly assimilated with the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day which is celebrated on November 1st. These days, Dia de Muertos is a holiday that honors those who have passed on before us by making altars in their memory. In addition, families will gather in graveyards as well to spend the night with their loved one remembering and honoring them with music, food, and laughter.
Dia de los Muertos Facts
The basic belief behind the Dia de Los Muertos is that the human soul does not die. Instead, people believe that while a person may pass away, their soul can travel to and from this world and the afterlife. The belief is that on the night of November 2nd, that the souls of our ancestors come to visit us for an evening. Therefore, it’s very important in Mexican culture to have an altar in place for your loved ones that have passed on before us. In Mexico, November 1st is the date where children and infants are celebrated that have passed on. Therefore, November 1st is often referred to as “Dia de Inocentes” or Day of the Innocents. Likewise, November 2nd is the date when adults and older people that are no longer with us are celebrated known as “Dia de Difuntos”.
Dia de Los Muertos Altars
The altar contains the favorite foods and drinks of the deceased, as well as the four elements of nature which are water, wind, fire and earth. In addition, the altars will contain photographs of those who have passed on as well. In addition, flowers are often used in altars and in other Dia de Los Muertos altars. The typical flower used to honor the dead is the marigold flower which is a vibrant yellow-orange flower that represents life, hope and the sun. In addition to the beautiful altars, families often prepare or purchase a baked good that is known as Pan de Muerto. This traditional dish is a sweet roll made of flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and butter. The bread is often molded into various designs including angels, animals, or skeletons.
Whale Watching
In addition to the Dia de Muertos celebration, the month of November also brings the return of humpback whales that begin arriving in Banderas Bay. They begin their migration down from the north in November and stay in the bay mating and birthing their young until early April. If you’d like to go whale watching, the best time to see them in large numbers is from mid-December through mid-March. In general, the month of December will have the most active viewing of adult whales when male whales compete for the attention of female whales in the hopes of mating. The first baby whales will be born in January, and become more active in February and March as they grow and become stronger swimmers. Earlier morning tours are better for people who tend to get seasick as the waves are calmer in the mornings.
We hope you enjoyed this article about Puerto Vallarta during November. Now, the only question is, are you ready to make your plans to visit Puerto Vallarta in person?
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