Fêtes des Morts © UT-Pierre Allaire
Fêtes des Morts © UT-Pierre Allaire

Festival of the Dead 2024 of Barcelonnette

From 25 to 27 October 2024, Barcelonnette invites you to immerse yourself in Mexican culture.

Barcelonnette is the most Mexican of French towns... so it's only natural that it should be celebrating Mexico's biggest traditional festival.

For 5 days, the town will be decked out in Mexican colours as it celebrates the Festival of the Dead with unusual and original activities directly linked to Mexican tradition.
Discover and take part in one of the highlights of the year in the Ubaye Valley, from 25 to 27 October 2024.

The Festival of the Dead echoes the famous Dia de los muertos, a tradition of pre-Hispanic origin that takes place in Mexico and celebrates the transitory return of the dead to Earth.

Meals, dances and mariachi music punctuate this event, which has been on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008.

The programme for the 2024 edition of the Festival of the Dead in Barcelonnette will soon be available

Festival of the Dead © UT-Pierre Allaire
Festival of the Dead © UT-Pierre Allaire
Festival of the Dead © UT-Pierre Allaire
Festival of the Dead © UT-Pierre Allaire

Where does the Festival of the Dead come from?

The Festival of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos in Spanish, is a traditional celebration that originated in Mexico and takes place mainly on 1 and 2 November each year. This festival is an opportunity to pay tribute to ancestors and loved ones who have died, in the belief that their souls return to Earth for one day.

The Festival of the Dead is characterised by rituals, decorations and special offerings for the dead. People build altars at home or in cemeteries, decorated with flowers, candles, photos of the deceased and offerings such as favourite foods and drinks of the deceased. People often wear colourful costumes and masks for the festival, and some paint their faces to resemble skulls.

The Feast of the Dead is a joyous and festive festival, seen as an opportunity to celebrate the lives of the deceased rather than mourn their loss. It is an important part of Mexican culture and is celebrated in many parts of the world where the Mexican community is present.

Why a Festival of the Dead in Barcelonnette (Vallée d'Ubaye)?

Barcelonnette, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region of France, has been celebrating this festival since 2018. Like the Latino-Mexican Festivals in August, the Festival of the Dead in Barcelonnette is a vibrant tribute to the ties between Mexico and the Ubaye Valley.

El Dia de los Muertos, a festive and inclusive event

Often associated, Dia de los Muertos and All Saints' Day are very different celebrations, contrasting two ways of paying tribute to the dead.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican festival that takes place in late October and early November. This celebration is rooted in indigenous Mexican beliefs and is intended to honour deceased ancestors.

It is characterised by altar offerings, colourful decorations, flowers, sugar skeletons, parades and costumes. People celebrate the lives of the deceased by sharing stories and memories, eating traditional food and taking part in festive activities.

In short, All Saints' Day is a Catholic festival that celebrates the saints, while Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican festival that honours deceased ancestors by celebrating their lives and perpetuating their memory.

Barcelonnette offers a unique opportunity to witness, understand and intensely experience this festival... without going to Mexico.