Mexico Ahead of 'Mangja-ui Nal' Faces Boycott Movement Over Mass Distribution of Chinese Flower Varieties

Growing Online Calls for Boycott... Sharing Ways to Distinguish Domestic and Chinese Varieties
"No Big Problem as Chinese Varieties Are Also Grown and Sold by Mexican Farms," Some Say

Symbol of the Day of the Dead 'Catrina' Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Every year on November 1-2 (local time), the Mexican people solemnly celebrate the holiday "D?a de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), remembering and praying for the souls of deceased relatives and friends. Mexican communities living across the world, including North America such as the United States and Canada, similarly honor this day by setting up altars or visiting cemeteries, and sharing food with family and neighbors.

The Day of the Dead was also a major theme in the movie "Coco." In Mexico, just before the holiday, the orange marigold flower known as "cempas?chil"?a symbol of the celebration?has become a hot topic. Controversy has arisen online after it was revealed that a Chinese hybrid variety, not the original, is being widely distributed.

The festival atmosphere is created with colorful skull patterns and vibrant street parades, and especially with the orange cempas?chil marigolds that are said to "guide the spirits of the dead," beautifully coloring many places.

However, this year, "cempas?chil chino" (Spanish for Chinese cempas?chil) has been massively supplied to flower shops and public places in Mexico.

On social media, there are claims that the traditional Mexican variety, which has long accompanied family altars for relatives, is disappearing, and a movement to "not buy cempas?chil chino" is spreading. Tips for distinguishing the Chinese variety?such as "it has little fragrance, a yellowish tint, and is sold potted rather than in bunches"?are widely shared.

Some argue that since the Chinese variety is also grown by Mexican farmers, it is not a big problem. Daniel Guzm?n Cruz, a Mexican cempas?chil farmer, told the local daily Milenio, "The Chinese variety also provides jobs for many producers in Mexico," emphasizing, "We must not forget that the flower’s origin is also Mexico." In fact, the Chinese variety is an ornamental hybrid based on Mexican cempas?chil, genetically short-lived. It also has limited production because it often fails to germinate. For this reason, cempas?chil farmers say the Chinese variety mostly withers after the Day of the Dead.

However, local media predict that due to Mexicans’ strong preference for tradition, it will be difficult to diminish the preference for "Mexican cempas?chil grown in cempas?chil farms such as Xochimilco and Tl?huac."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.