Mexico City’s Day of the Dead Celebrations Come to the Metaverse
For the first time, the City of Mexico will be inviting netizens across the world to experience the iconic festival of life and death in the metaverse!
OCTOBER 27, 2022. NEWS. WRITTEN BY JENZ ALIPAR.
Time for a new take on a old tradition!
Spatial, a Web3 company dedicated to help creators and brands build their own spaces in the metaverse, has announced an exciting collaboration with Ezel.Life – in partnership with the Government of Mexico City – to bring the world-renowned Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations to Spatial’s metaverse platform.
Visitors from around the world can join in the fun using their Ready Player Me avatars, applying themed costumes and taking part in various activities.
Designed by leading immersive experiences studio Polycount, this virtual world will feature wearable NFTs and a mural by one of Mexico’s most iconic artists, Diego Rivera.
Ezel.Life is also collaborating with Decentraland to bring a virtual Day of the Dead parade to Decentraland’s Arts District. The virtual event opens on October 29 and will be promoted at the physical parade in Mexico City, which drew over 3 million attendees in 2021.
The Day of the Dead metaverses will remain open for the entire month of November and will include a portal allowing visitors to travel between the Spatial and Decentraland metaverses, marking one of the first interoperable metaverse experiences.
“We are very excited to bring Mexico’s official Day of the Dead parade into the Spatial and Decentraland metaverses. For the first time in history, we will celebrate Day of the Dead digitally, bringing Mexican traditions and culture to the world. We look forward to celebrating with you all at the end of the month, while sharing many new and exciting immersive experiences in the months ahead.”
“As we know, CDMX is the most connected city in the world, which will allow for free access to the virtual parade through mobile devices and computers. Further, our partnership with Ezel.Life, who are responsible for presenting cultural projects in the metaverse, brings users from all over the world to this iconic event. This approach positions Mexico City on the cutting edge of digital platforms.”
“We are so thrilled to be a part of this joyful and colorful celebration that sits at the heart of Mexican culture. In offering an immersive, virtual version of this cultural landmark event, it allows anyone – in any corner of the world – to get up close to the intricately designed costumes & artwork, and experience the dynamic celebration first-hand. As a platform that supports inclusivity, we love to support traditions and communities that cross all borders and cultures.”
Visitors can access the virtual celebration on October 29 directly from the Spatial homepage.
Opinion
Since the dawn of civilization, people have come together to celebrate various holidays and festivals. Whilst specific celebrations may vary from culture to culture, they all serve a similar purpose – to bring people together and create a sense of community.
When it comes to celebrating important cultural events, nothing beats being able to do so in person, and the metaverse is still a relatively new frontier. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a potential for these festivals to expand their horizons in the digital space.
In a world that’s increasingly virtual, bringing these festivities into the metaverse will allow us all to maintain our cultural traditions no matter where we are in the world, helping to cultivate, expand and hone those connections that help us all feel a little closer to home.
