Somewhere between Merída and Valladolid lies the little town of Hoctun. It's not particularly notworthy, and in the blink of an eye you could miss it passing by. But don't blink or you'll miss some of the most unusual cemetary art anywhere.
In the early 1960's, Hoctun outgrew it's old cemetary with some of the old crypts beginning to fall in on themselves
So the town did what any town would do, they enlarged it. And long before the catchphrase "go big or go home" became stylish, the Hoctun cemetary did just that with spectacular results
Symbols of the pre-Colombian times are clearly visible in the pyramides atop crypts that co-mingled with the jumble of post Colombian era symbols of crosses, crucifixes, cherubs and angles.
Some families (as shown below) choose to highlight their Maya ancestery.
The crypts, for the most part, are colorful and well tende. Despite annual painting and refurbishing, some crypts do show the wear of nearly 50 years
Death and cemetaries tend to be sad somber places in the U.S. The cemetary at Hoctun is quite the opposite. There is a vitality and life that attracts people to it. A regular stop for folk art tour and afficionados it welcomes in an unexpected way with color and whimsy.
Hoctun is located almost in the exact middle of the State of Yucatan on Mexico 180, the road that runs from Merída to Cancun, and is about 20 miles +/- from Chichen Itza. If you're in the area. stop in wander around (good restroom facilities by the front entrance.)
Comments