San Gabriel Chilac Carnival

In the Nahua village of San Gabriel Chilac, the dead are invited back as carnival figures wearing grotesque masks and dancing through the streets, blending death commemoration with ribald comedy. This pre-Hispanic ceremony, with danzas de los muertos, is the oldest surviving syncretism of indigenous funeral rite and Spanish carnival tradition in Puebla state. The tradition dates back over 400 years, making it 30% older than the typical Puebla celebration. It attracts about 2,000 participants annually, which is slower than the average festival growth in the region.