Caudete will celebrate the fourth edition of the 'From life and death: a different perspective' event from 27 October to 1 November, organised by the local council through its Cemetery Department. This initiative aims to engage the community with the realities of death from historical, social, and cultural perspectives, helping to overcome the taboos that often surround the topic.
Coinciding with the observances of All Saints' Day and the Day of the Dead, the event provides a space for understanding local traditions, exploring aspects of local history, and sharing moments of reflection and remembrance for those who have passed away.
Moisés López Martínez, the local councillor for the Cemetery, encourages residents to participate in the various activities, which blend educational and cultural proposals with emotionally significant events at the Municipal Cemetery. He stated, 'Death is a part of our existence, even though it is often difficult to discuss. With these days, we want to approach this reality with naturalness, respect, and sensitivity, showing that we can also understand it through history, culture, art, and our own traditions. We want these activities to be open to everyone, sparking curiosity and allowing us to share experiences and memories.'
A programme for discovery, learning, and reflection
The activities will commence on Tuesday, 27 October, at 20:00 in the Sala Joven with a conference titled 'Black chronicle of the province of Albacete', presented by Antonio Martínez Alcalde. On Wednesday, 28 October, also at 20:00 in the Sala Joven, Dr Juan Carlos Trallero Fort will give a talk entitled 'Near-death experiences: a light of hope', inviting attendees to explore a topic that raises many questions.
On Thursday, 29 October, at 20:00, the Sala Joven will host 'Death in cinema: a historical perspective', led by local resident Juan José Lozano Requena, who will discuss the representation of death in film. The programme will continue on Friday, 30 October, at 20:00 in the Patio de la Oficina de Turismo, with a dramatization of Edgar Allan Poe's well-known work 'The Tell-Tale Heart', performed by local actor José María Bañón Martínez. This theatrical presentation will connect the audience with one of the most recognised stories in mystery and horror literature, adding a scenic experience that links literature and culture.
New addition of poetry to the event
One of the new features of this year's event will take place on Saturday, 31 October, at 11:00 in the Municipal Cemetery, with the activity 'Poetry for remembrance', a reading of poems dedicated to local authors. This addition expands the cultural dimension of the event, offering a new way to approach memory through poetic expression in a setting that invites respect, reflection, and remembrance.
López Martínez remarked, 'We thought it was interesting to incorporate an activity that combines poetry and memory, as literature also helps us express feelings, keep memories alive, and pay tribute to those who are part of our history. We want the event to continue to include different proposals and for each edition to offer new reasons to participate.'
Following the poetry reading, at 12:00, there will be a necrotourism visit of the Municipal Cemetery, allowing participants to learn more about the history and heritage of this space. The day will conclude at 20:00 with a lantern-lit necrotourism visit, providing a unique perspective of the cemetery while maintaining the utmost respect for its significance and the people resting there.
A shared remembrance on 1 November
The programme will culminate on Sunday, 1 November, All Saints' Day, with two events dedicated specifically to remembering loved ones. At 11:00, in the chapel of the Municipal Cemetery, a 'Light and prayer' ceremony will take place, involving the lighting of candles for the deceased and prayers. Subsequently, at 12:00, in the cemetery's grave area, there will be 'In remembrance of the absent', featuring a concert by the Santa Cecilia Musical Society orchestra and the reading of names of those who passed away in the last year. This act is one of the central moments of the event, providing family, friends, and neighbours the opportunity to honour those who have left us, sharing a space of memory and recognition.
The councillor emphasised the importance of maintaining this annual event, which allows for collective remembrance of Caudete residents who have died in the past year and symbolically supports their families during these significant dates.
An invitation to the community
With this new edition, the Cemetery Department reaffirms its commitment to a programme that combines education, heritage, culture, and memory, bringing residents closer to a reality that is part of the human experience from various perspectives. López Martínez encourages residents to review the programme and participate in the activities: 'We would like the community to come, to discover proposals they may not know, and to find in them an opportunity to learn, enjoy culture, and share memories. Behind every story, every name, and every tradition are people and experiences that deserve to be known and remembered.'
The Caudete Town Council invites the entire population to join these days, which once again open a space for culture, reflection, and tribute, reminding us that understanding our past, discussing life, and comprehending death is also a way to keep the memory of those who came before us alive.
