Mariposa Monarca – A Butterfly as a Migrant
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| Day ticket or evening ticket for Fiesta de Día de Muertos required |
| Mechanical Arena in the Foyer |
| Belongs to: Fiesta de Día de Muertos |
Every autumn, up to 60 million monarch butterflies migrate to central Mexico, to the forests of Michoacán, where they spend the winter. Their journey is spectacular: coming from the northeastern United States and Canada, they travel up to 4,500 kilometers to reach their winter habitat. There they remain semi-dormant, fluttering into the air whenever the sun warms them—creating a fascinating orange-and-gold spectacle in the skies above the biosphere reserve.
Since the first monarch butterflies arrive at the beginning of November, just in time for the Day of the Dead, the Indigenous Mazahua, Otomí, and Purépecha peoples believe they embody the souls of the departed returning to visit. The butterflies are honored and welcomed.
Before setting off on their northward journey in spring, the butterflies mate and lay their eggs on milkweed plants along the way. Up to four generations die during the journey, and just as many are born en route.
The migrating monarch butterfly remains a mystery. We still do not know exactly why it undertakes the hardships of migration. Compared to its non-migratory relatives, however, it proves to be remarkably resilient and robust. While some butterflies live only two to six weeks, the migrating monarch can live up to nine months.
Photographer: Mario Vázquez
Born in Mexico, he has lived in Berlin for over 30 years and works as an actor, visual artist, and photographer. He is the initiator of the Mexican Day of the Dead Festival in Berlin, a founding member of Calaca e.V., and served for many years as its artistic director. He trained as an actor at the Escuela Nacional Mascarones in Mexico, where he was a member of the ensemble for 13 years. As an actor, he has participated in all productions of Calaca e.V. As a director, he staged, among others, the music and shadow theater piece Franziska und der Tod (Franziska and Death) as well as The Journey to Mictlán.
Curator: Isabel Ibáñez
Isabel Ibáñez Goméz was born in Regensburg and is an architect. Alongside her profession, she has been deeply engaged in photography and art. Since 2021 she has been a member of Calaca e.V., although through her family she had already been involved in the Day of the Dead festivities for many years. Within the association, she is responsible for decoration, graphic design, and the curation of the photo exhibition.
Editorial: Ellen Häring de Vázquez