He Hanal Pixán in Yucatán It is one of the most important traditions that the Mayan culture has and that seeks to celebrate the lives of people who are no longer with us on the earthly plane.
Also known as “the food of the souls”, Hanal Pixán is a way to preserve the customs and traditions of our ancestors. During this time, food plays a fundamental part and, for many, it is what characterizes this celebration.
For this reason, here we tell you what those are. typical dishes, drinks and sweets that are eaten in Yucatan and why they are so important in Hanal Pixán.
What is Hanal Pixán?: Meaning and how it is celebrated in Yucatán
He Hanal Pixán It is celebrated in Yucatan October 31 to November 2. Its main objective is to honor those who have already died and who, as tradition says, during these three days, return to earth to live with their loved ones and enjoy the food and drinks that were left on their altar as an offering.
The first day, October 31, is known as Hanal Pal” and is dedicated to the children and minors who have already left; November 1st is known as “Hanal Naul sowicob word and is dedicated to the adultswhile the third day, November 2, is called “Do the Pigeeneob” and it is for the faithful deceased or the souls that are in pain.
In Yucatán, as well as other states of the Peninsula, it is celebrated by placing altars made especially for your loved ones and with objects and food that the deceased liked. In addition, flowers, candles, photos and other objects that we will describe later are used.
In places like Campechespecifically in the town of Pomuchthere is a habit of exhume and clean bones of the deceased as part of this custom; The relatives of the deceased go to his grave, clean and decorate it and later do the same with the bones. Each state, town or community also has its own beliefs and they vary according to their way of celebrating Hanal Pixán.
On the other hand, in general terms and once the deceased enjoyed their dishes, offerings and so on, the family can taste said food and everything they prepared for these days. This makes Hanal Pixán a tradition that seeks to maintain a connection between the living and the dead.
What elements does the Hanal Pixán altar carry?
Although each family has its own beliefs and ways of making its offering for the Day of the Dead, according to researchers and anthropologists, the basic elements that must have a altar in Hanal Pixán They are the following.
- Table with white tablecloth.
- A cross of Christ, which is placed in the center of the altar, as a sign of commending the deceased.
- Photograph of the deceased; Although it is not mandatory, it is placed to remember and pray for that loved one.
- Candles. If they are children, they use colors; if they are adults, black or white is used. These represent the light that guides them to God.
- Flowers. They are not considered mandatory and it is suggested that they be the ones you have at home. The cempasuchil is usually the most common flower during this time even though it is not a tradition from Yucatán, but from the center of the country.
- Incense. It is responsible for bringing to the souls the smell of the food that is placed on the altar; It is like an invitation to go down to the underworld to taste the food that was made in their honor.
- Glass with water. It works as a digestive for the souls after they “taste” the food.
- Objects that the deceased liked.
- Favorite food for the deceased. This is the central part of the altar.
LEARN MORE: Altar of Hanal Pixán: meaning of all its elements
Typical dishes for Hanal Pixán in Yucatán
As we mentioned before, the food It is one of the most important elements during this time because it is the offering for the souls and it is also a way to remember them and keep them in mind, so here we will tell you what is eaten in Yucatán at Hanal Pixán.
On the Peninsula, the main dish is “start” o “mucbipollo”, also called “mukbil pollo”, which in Mayan means “something that must be buried” or “roasted or cooked underground.”
Others also know it as “pibipollo”, however, The Mayan priest Edgar Peraza Chan, explained in an interview for the Diario de Yucatán that the original name is start xcaax; start means “made in oven” and xcaac “hen”.
GDP is a type of tamale which is prepared with corn dough, tomato, lard, chili, onion, epazote and “x’pelón” (tender beans). It may be stuffed with chicken, turkey, pork or beefwhich they mix in kol, prepared with the broth where the meat was cooked, annatto and dough.
How is gdp made? Ingredients and recipe for Hanal Pixán
The list of ingredients that carries the start It may vary according to the traditions, tastes and methods of preparation of each family, however, here we leave you the elements that it should definitely include:
- corn dough
- Lard
- banana leaves
- Pork and chicken
- Sal
- Onion
- Tomato
- x’pelón bean
for the kol (thick sauce used as filling in gdp):
- annatto paste
- spices
- Epazote
- dissolved mass
- concentrated broth
Traditionally, the pib is wrapped in banana leaves and then It is buried in a hole with hot stones and wood; he cooking time is approximately two hours per gdp, but It varies depending on its size. Nowadays, many people prepare them in conventional ovens or go to bakeries to cook them properly.
Another of the typical dishes in Yucatan that cannot be missed in Hanal Pixán, are the tamales and “vaporcitos”, as well as the “x’pelón” tamales. These are also placed on the altar as an offering, but it is a food that is never lacking in Yucatecan homes. They can also be made from pork or chicken and are mostly accompanied by a tomato sauce. They resemble GDP but their preparation and cooking is different.
He black or white fillinghe pickleas well as the beans with pork, They are other options that, in addition to being traditional in Yucatecan gastronomy, are also part of the menu for the time of death.
However, within all this variety, there is one dish that, like GDP, is unavoidable; known as “check“, which in Mayan means “scrambled“, is a typical fruit salad from Hanal Pixán; For it, jicamas, grapefruits, tangerines and oranges are used, which are seasonal fruits and are mixed together with lemon and salt to taste and a few cilantro leaves.
READ HERE: What to do in Mérida at Hanal Pixán 2025: unmissable events, what to visit and where to go
Traditional Mayan drinks for the Hanal Pixán altar
Just as food is important during the season of the dead and Day of the Dead, drinks They also play a fundamental role in the altar of Hanal Pixán, which were created by our Mayan ancestors and used many years ago in ceremonies that they considered religious. Here we describe some:
Tan-chucúa o Tanchuca: Traditional Mayan drink similar to atole or champurrado. It is made with new corn dough, anise, and chocolate. Its texture is thick and is very common in Day of the Dead offerings in Yucatán and other states such as Tabasco. According to history, the tanchuca they could only drink it the emperors, priests and high-ranking people.
Balché: This is a pre-Hispanic drink of the Mayans who considered it had physical and spiritual properties, which helped connect with the deities. It is a tradition in Hanal Pixán and it is said that It has healing properties. Its preparation requires pieces of the bark of the balché tree, melipona honey, cinnamon and anise.
Hot chocolate: Although chocolate is a food that is placed in offerings both in Yucatan and in almost all of Mexico, in our state it is traditionally prepared with hot water and was called “chocoj ha”.
For the Mayans, it was considered a sacred drink and, just as They used it in wedding rituals, It also served them in funeral ceremonies. In those times, it was made with roasted cocoa, water and spicy spices such as chili; Furthermore, they still used it as currency and thought it was a divine gift.
What traditional Yucatecan sweets are eaten at Hanal Pixán?
When preparing the altar of Hanal Pixán, there is also typical yucatecan sweets which are a fundamental part not only of the celebration but also of the offering for the deceased. Among the most common are:
Papaya candy: The fruit is peeled and cut into slices which are cooked in a mixture of sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Let it cool until the fruit softens and the syrup becomes consistent. You have to be careful with the resin from the fruit, as it can damage the skin.
Pumpkin candy: Typical fruit of the season; This traditional sweet is prepared with a base of water with cinnamon sweetened with honey, sugar or piloncillo. It usually goes in all offerings and the seeds are used for other typical sweets or desserts.
Coconut sweets: Coconut is essential in Yucatecan desserts; With it, they make typical sweets for Hanal Pixán such as: coconut squares, cocadas, cremitas and carved coconut ones, also called palanquetas.
Pumpkin seed candy: As mentioned above, the pumpkin seed is also used to cook traditional sweets and desserts during the Day of the Dead, such as: sapotitos, marzipan, and carved pepita. Being a typical fruit, pumpkin has various uses this season.
READ HERE: Traditional Yucatecan sweets essential in Hanal Pixán
Although there is still a wide variety of dishes, drinks and sweets that are used in Hanal Pixán, These are perhaps the most important and, therefore, the most traditional in Yucatán. In any case, we invite you to tell us which one do you think is missing from this list?
Leave us your comments and don’t forget to honor and remember your loved ones who are no longer here during this Day of the Dead season. Enjoy the pib and all the typical dishes of Hanal Pixán!