MEXICO CITY (AP) – Turned over by the coronavirus pandemic that has plagued the country since March, Mexico is preparing for an atypical Mother’s Day in which it will not be possible to celebrate according to traditions that are over a century old, which It has sparked some debate.
Since 1922, every May 10, Mexicans pay tribute to their mothers. Many give flowers, balloons, and greeting cards that are sometimes accompanied by mariachi, band, or trio music, while others go to restaurants or squares and others visit cemeteries who are no longer by their side.
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But most of those things will be impossible to do due to the social distancing measures implemented since March 23.
In the country’s capital, a megalopolis with more than 20 million inhabitants, the authorities will close 42 public markets to avoid possible infections at a time when the pandemic reaches its highest peak.
As of Tuesday night, Mexico had 26,025 cases of COVID-19 and 2,507 deaths. 6,999 infections have been registered in the capital.
Among the markets that will not operate is Jamaica, a colossal facility where there are 1,300 flower shops and which is crowded by thousands of people every May 10.
Other popular markets on that date are Sonora and La Merced, also in the capital. Both will be closed.
“This decision was made because we do not want those attending this traditional market to give away the COVID-19 disease on Mother’s Day,” said the mayor of the Venustiano Carranza delegation, Julio César Moreno.
Meetings in restaurants will not be possible either because many are closed and those who operate do so with home delivery. But on May 10, at least in the capital, they will be limited to delivering less than four orders per home to avoid parties or meetings.
The head of government in the capital, Claudia Sheinbaum, proposed to change the date of the celebration to July 10 only for this year.
“In my case, I will celebrate by calling my mother and having my children call me, but let’s not get together and wait better for July 10 to do family meetings,” said Sheinbaum. “We do not agree with the consumerism of the date, but with what a family reunion means, so in 2020 on May 10 I ask you to celebrate it at a healthy distance and meet on July 10”.
The government of the capital issued an announcement in which a voice of an old woman is heard asking her relatives not to visit her and stay at home.
The publicity was not to the liking of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who criticized it despite the fact that Sheinbaum belongs to the same party.
“I do not see the need for the campaign that people stay at home with an overly authoritative tone … instilling fear,” said the president at a press conference. “Treating citizens as if they were not responsible and as if they were not demonstrating that they are consciously participating and avoiding leaving. I respectfully do not endorse that campaign, I am not a supporter of authoritarianism, I hope they withdraw it. ”
In addition to the markets, some cemeteries in different city halls of the capital and others in the State of Mexico will remain closed to avoid possible contagion, a measure that will also be applied in the western city of Guadalajara. In Morelos, south of the capital, they will be open but only two people will be allowed to enter each grave.
In Nuevo León, in the north of the country, the Ministry of Health ordered the closing of the patisseries on May 9 and 10 for not considering it an essential activity.
“There should not be a celebration on Mother’s Day because we will probably give our mother the coronavirus as a gift, which can kill her, and that is going to be the gift that we are going to give her instead of giving her flowers or a hug,” she said. Manuel de la O Cavazos, Secretary of Health of that state.
In Guadalajara and other states such as Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Zacatecas, serenades with mariachis were also prohibited, a typical custom at dawn to sing “Las Mañanitas”, a traditional birthday song that is usually carried over to Mother’s Day.
For some mothers in Mexico, the date was used to remember their disappeared children with protests that this year will not be carried out due to restrictions on social isolation. Like the cakes, flowers and hugs that will be virtual, this time instead of loading posters on the streets of the capital, they chose to make a collection of videos so that their struggle is not forgotten.
