Xantolo en Huejutla de Reyes, Hidalgo

In the heart of the Huasteca region of Hidalgo, Xantolo comes alive with the vibrant energy of a tradition that unites the living with their ancestors. More than a commemoration, it’s a collective celebration that transforms the streets, plazas, and hearts of Huejutla.

The name “Xantolo,” derived from the Náhuatl and Latin sanctórum —meaning “Feast of All Saints”— captures the essence of this celebration: honoring the memory of the departed with joy, color, and music. In Huejutla, death is not an end, but a reunion.

This 2025, the grand altar will feature corn as its central element, symbolizing life and sustenance. Its design includes four half-moons, representing the lunar cycles of planting, along with depictions of the Huastec woman and a fort-like viewing platform that allows visitors to admire the heart of the ceremonial site from above.

From October 30 to November 2, Huejutla fills with dance, aromas, lights, and sounds that envelop everyone who comes to experience this one-of-a-kind celebration.

Highlights include:

• October 30: Parade of masked dance troupes, inauguration of the Monumental Altar at Plaza 21 de Mayo (8:00 p.m.), unveiling of the mural “Where Life Dances with Death” (9:30 p.m.), and a Huastec music performance.

• October 31: Offering to the departed children (12:00 p.m.), cultural gatherings, dance troupes, and cinema among the graves at the municipal cemetery (7:00–9:00 p.m.).

• November 1: Offerings, traditional costume exhibitions (5:00–7:00 p.m.), runway shows, dramatizations, and a lively popular dance (10:00 p.m.).

• November 2: General offering to all souls (12:00 p.m.), cultural exchange, candle lighting in honor of Ánima Sola (10:00 p.m.), and a grand closing dance (11:00 p.m.).

Experiencing Xantolo in Huejutla means stepping into a celebration where death dresses in life, where souls return to the scent of copal and song, and where every visitor becomes part of a living tradition that beats with the heart of Mexico.