The fields of marigold flowers these days become a visual and sensory spectacle in the prelude to the traditional Day of the Dead in Mexico, when the producers of the municipality of Atlixco, in the state of Puebla (center), begin to cut the flowers to take them to all corners of the country and with them—and their peculiar smell—call the souls back to their homes.
The cempasúchil is one of the most important icons of the Day of the Dead, which combines indigenous roots, Catholic faith and popular creativity.
Working long days and with a curved knife, the workers cut and choose the best flowers—those that are not mistreated—since their objective will be to decorate the offerings or altars where the food and favorite objects of the deceased people whose memory will be honored this weekend are placed, as tradition dictates.
Once collected, The flowers are taken to the market, where buyers from different states of the country come to negotiate them and immediately load them on trucks that will transport them throughout the country during the festivities of November 1 and 2.
Read: Cempasúchil covers Mexico on the Day of the Dead, but climate change puts it at risk
This is how he explained it Lorenzo Díaz Ortega, a producer in the area, who stated that this year more than three hundred hectares of marigolds were planted in the region, which guarantees supply.
“With the entire region between cempasúchil there are more than 300 hectares, velvet—another type of seasonal flower—, there are around 200 or 250 hectares, so there are quite a few flowers that are going to be sold here in Atlixco like every year,” explained the flower grower.
Likewise, Díaz Ortega mentioned that every year the demand is greater, given that more buyers are added who take the flower to states in the north and south of the country.
“They come from Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tlaxcala, a very strong buyer is Hidalgo, which is the one that takes the most flowers, and they have come from Sonora, Zacatecas, Colima, Durango and Quintana Roo,” Diaz explained.
According to data from state authorities, Puebla is positioned this year as a leader in marigold and velvet production, concentrating 72% of national production.
The marigold flower has a special shape; It has around 56 species throughout the territory. It is a spectacle to look at with its more than twenty petals of yellow, gold or orange colors, they have a sweet smell that can be enjoyed in the months of October and November, along with a fleeting lifespan of only four months.
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