1 November 2022
Día de los Muertos
If you’re looking for evidence of the increased diversity of the modern-day world curling family, you need look no further than the Mexico women’s team, currently competing in the B-Division of the Pan Continental Championships in Calgary, Canada.
The dates of the Championships coincide with a very important day in Mexico – the Day of the Dead (or Día de los Muertos) The team was determined to mark the occasion, even if they were in Canada, rather than with their families.
That’s why, when they went for a practice session at the local Cochrane Curling Club they donned traditional outfits and face-paint decoration in the style of the Día de los Muertos.
Mexican skip Adriana Camarena took time out to explain something of the history, importance, and tradition of this uniquely Mexican celebration.
She said, “The Day of the Dead is a celebration of our ancestors in Mexico. We have a fun-loving relationship with our beloved deceased in Mexico and we remember them as they were in life.”
Adriana explained further, “We put out altars every year and we take out pictures of our grandparents and other people in our lives that have passed on. We often leave them treats, so you might imagine for a curler you might put out a stone or their shoes, or a good whisky even.”
Adriana also added, “When we think about a beloved person who has passed on, it is a synchronisation between the old traditions and our constant relationship with the deceased. We can hear their voices, and their council, and their memories. It is a way of carrying forward our traditions into current lives.”
As it happens, Mexico’s second player, Veronica Huerta, had her birthday on Thursday, and their third, Estafana Quintero, had her birthday on Sunday, and, as Adriana explains, “Steffie said that if she had to spend her birthday practising, then the whole team had to dress up, and we did.”
In carrying out this celebration from deep within their culture, the Mexican team have shone a spotlight on something that the rest of the curling world can cherish. That’s why Adriana has a special appeal she would like to make of everyone. “We would like everyone today to think of a beloved ancestor and put out a treat for them – something that they loved in life – and hear their voice.”
Engage with the World Curling Federation during the Pan Continental Curling Championships 2022 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Weibo and by searching the hashtags #PCCC2022 #curling
