A woman places a candle at an altar for her mother who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico on November 1. Reuters
A woman places a candle at an altar for her mother who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico on November 1. Reuters
Hundreds of families illuminate the graves of their loved ones, in Guerrero state, Mexico. Mexican families once again filled cemeteries with life on the Day of the Dead, on a morning in which they mostly dedicated themselves to cleaning and preparing the cemeteries of their deceased after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. EPA
Hundreds of families illuminate the graves of their loved ones, in Guerrero state, Mexico. Mexican families once again filled cemeteries with life on the Day of the Dead, on a morning in which they mostly dedicated themselves to cleaning and preparing the cemeteries of their deceased after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. EPA
A woman serves food for her guests near an altar in homage to a person who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration in Santa Fe de La Laguna in Mexico. Reuters
A woman serves food for her guests near an altar in homage to a person who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration in Santa Fe de La Laguna in Mexico. Reuters
Offerings are placed at an altar in homage to a family member who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration. Reuters
Offerings are placed at an altar in homage to a family member who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration. Reuters
A boy lights candles as he attends a Night of the Dead celebration. People adorn the tombs of the dead and remain in the pantheon throughout the night waiting for their relatives. Tradition says that on the night of November 1 and early morning of November 2, the souls of the dead return to the world of the living. AFP
A boy lights candles as he attends a Night of the Dead celebration. People adorn the tombs of the dead and remain in the pantheon throughout the night waiting for their relatives. Tradition says that on the night of November 1 and early morning of November 2, the souls of the dead return to the world of the living. AFP
A woman prays in front of an altar in homage to a person who died recently. Reuters
A woman prays in front of an altar in homage to a person who died recently. Reuters
Majestic Catrinas are pictured during the Day of the Dead monumental offering at Zocalo square in Mexico City on November 1. AFP
Majestic Catrinas are pictured during the Day of the Dead monumental offering at Zocalo square in Mexico City on November 1. AFP
Men wearing masks dance during the offering in memory of their relatives amid Day of the Dead. EPA
Men wearing masks dance during the offering in memory of their relatives amid Day of the Dead. EPA
A mariachi group plays music outside the altar of Nuestra Senora de la Santa Muerte, or Our Lady of Holy Death, in Mexico City's Tepito neighborhood. La Santa Muerte is a folk saint, a personification of death, associated with healing, protection, and safe delivery to the afterlife by her devotees. AP Photo
A mariachi group plays music outside the altar of Nuestra Senora de la Santa Muerte, or Our Lady of Holy Death, in Mexico City's Tepito neighborhood. La Santa Muerte is a folk saint, a personification of death, associated with healing, protection, and safe delivery to the afterlife by her devotees. AP Photo
A group of indigenous women dressed as Catrinas parade in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico. Hundreds of people dressed as skulls, ghosts and monsters paraded through the main streets of San Cristobal de Las Casas, to celebrate the mix of the traditional Day of the Dead of Mexico with Halloween of the United States. EPA
A group of indigenous women dressed as Catrinas parade in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico. Hundreds of people dressed as skulls, ghosts and monsters paraded through the main streets of San Cristobal de Las Casas, to celebrate the mix of the traditional Day of the Dead of Mexico with Halloween of the United States. EPA
A portrait and clothes of a family member who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration. Reuters
A portrait and clothes of a family member who died recently during the annual Day of the Dead celebration. Reuters
An indigenous woman makes a smoke offering in memory of her relatives. EPA
An indigenous woman makes a smoke offering in memory of her relatives. EPA
Hundreds of people honour their dead relatives at the Xilotepec Pantheon, in Mexico City. EPA
Hundreds of people honour their dead relatives at the Xilotepec Pantheon, in Mexico City. EPA

Lifestyle

Family

Day of the Dead 2022: what is it and why do we celebrate it?

Dia de Muertos is celebrated around the world annually on November 1 and 2

Janice Rodrigues
Janice Rodrigues

November 02, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Towards the end of October, a barrage of dancing skeleton cartoons and sugar skulls make their way onto our social media feeds and screens. And while it’s easy to assume this is because of Halloween, it’s actually another annual festival that we have to thank.

Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos in Spanish, is a holiday that originated thousands of years ago in Mexico. Even though it’s often thought of as interchangeable with Halloween, the two are different holidays, with unique roots and traditions.

Scroll through the gallery above to see how people are celebrating Day of the Dead this year

Disney Pixar’s 'Coco' has been credited with helping popularise the Day of the Dead. Photo: Disney Pixar
Disney Pixar’s 'Coco' has been credited with helping popularise the Day of the Dead. Photo: Disney Pixar

To begin with, they’re celebrated on different days; while Halloween falls on October 31, Day of the Dead is annually observed on November 1 and 2. On these days, it is believed that the gate between the spirit world and real world dissolves, and families welcome the souls of deceased relatives with food, drink and celebrations.

Although the main festivities are held on November 2, November 1 is known as All Saints' Day, when the spirits of children or the innocent can join their families for 24 hours.

What is Day of the Dead?

The origins of the Day of the Dead can be traced back to the Aztecs, who had a unique way of honouring the deceased. According to this belief, once a person died, they had to undergo a gruelling and time-consuming journey to reach Mictlan, the final resting place.

Families would provide water, food and other tools that they believed could aid the deceased, which led to the modern Day of the Dead tradition of creating ofrendas, or special altars, with the deceased’s favourite food and drinks as well as photos and memorabilia. The intent is the same: to encourage the souls on their journey and pay tribute to them.

While the festival was previously believed to be celebrated during summer, with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century and the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, it was moved to the first two days of November.

Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos, is celebrated with colourful altars, or ofrendas. AP Photo
Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos, is celebrated with colourful altars, or ofrendas. AP Photo

Today, versions of the Day of the Dead are celebrated in a few other Catholic countries around the world.

In the Philippines, All Saints' Day or Undas, is observed on November 1, with families honouring deceased relatives by gathering at their graves and offering food, flowers, candles and prayers. In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a day of prayer and remembrance for the souls of those who have died.

Despite its rather sombre-sounding backstory, Day of the Dead isn’t seen as a solemn occasion in Mexico. In fact, one of the biggest differences between it and Halloween is the manner in which it is celebrated: while Halloween regards spirits as things that need to be avoided, Day of the Dead celebrates the spirits of the deceased, with families welcoming the departed back the land of the living.

Read more

Elon Musk shows up at Heidi Klum's wormy New York Halloween party

It’s why the day is filled with colourful decorations, street parties, music, dances and puppets. In some parts of the country, families open their doors to anyone interested in viewing the ofrendas.

Sugar skulls are made — both edible and non-edible versions — to be used as decorations, to be placed on ofrendas or to be eaten. Food plays an important role in the festival, too, with pan de muerto, a type of sweet bread, and atole, a hot beverage with masa, cinnamon and brown sugar, being popular treats.

Flowers play an important role as well, with marigolds being the flower of choice for Day of the Dead. There are many possible explanations behind their use, from them being in season to their bright hue to their scent helping attract and guide visiting souls.

Perhaps nothing is as symbolic of the pomp and humour with which it is celebrated as La Calavera Catrina, loosely translating to “elegant skull”. Originally a cartoon created by Jose Guadalupe Posada in the 1940s, it’s what gave rise to the popular sugar skull make-up, sweets and paintings that are symbolic of the festival today.

Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Day of the Dead celebrations last year

People participate in the main avenues in a parade to commemorate Day of the Dead in Mexico City. EPA
People participate in the main avenues in a parade to commemorate Day of the Dead in Mexico City. EPA
Day of the Dead, or Dia de Los Muertos in Spanish, is a holiday that originated thousands of years ago in Mexico. EPA
Day of the Dead, or Dia de Los Muertos in Spanish, is a holiday that originated thousands of years ago in Mexico. EPA
Even though it is often thought of as interchangeable with Halloween, the two are different holidays, with unique roots and traditions. EPA
Even though it is often thought of as interchangeable with Halloween, the two are different holidays, with unique roots and traditions. EPA
Day of the Dead is annually observed on November 1 and 2. EPA
Day of the Dead is annually observed on November 1 and 2. EPA
On these days, it is believed that the gate between the spirit world and real world dissolves. EPA
On these days, it is believed that the gate between the spirit world and real world dissolves. EPA
Families welcome the souls of deceased relatives on these days with food, drink and celebrations. EPA
Families welcome the souls of deceased relatives on these days with food, drink and celebrations. EPA
Despite its rather sombre-sounding backstory, Day of the Dead isn’t seen as a solemn occasion in Mexico. EPA
Despite its rather sombre-sounding backstory, Day of the Dead isn’t seen as a solemn occasion in Mexico. EPA
The day is filled with colourful decorations, street parties, music, dances and puppets. EPA
The day is filled with colourful decorations, street parties, music, dances and puppets. EPA
While Halloween regards spirits as things that need to be avoided, Day of the Dead embraces the souls of the dead, welcoming them. EPA
While Halloween regards spirits as things that need to be avoided, Day of the Dead embraces the souls of the dead, welcoming them. EPA
A Catrina figure is pushed by revellers during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
A Catrina figure is pushed by revellers during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
A participant performs as a taquero during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
A participant performs as a taquero during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
A man with a skull face painting attends the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
A man with a skull face painting attends the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
Participants dressed in costume during the Day of The Dead parade in Mexico City. Bloomberg
Participants dressed in costume during the Day of The Dead parade in Mexico City. Bloomberg
Participants dressed as hummingbirds perform during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
Participants dressed as hummingbirds perform during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
Participants wearing skull masks perform during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
Participants wearing skull masks perform during the annual Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. Reuters
People participate in the main avenues in a parade to commemorate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City. EPA
People participate in the main avenues in a parade to commemorate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City. EPA
Families honour deceased relatives by gathering at their graves, and offering food, flowers, candles and prayers. EPA
Families honour deceased relatives by gathering at their graves, and offering food, flowers, candles and prayers. EPA
A parade to commemorate the Day of the Dead was held in Mexico City. EPA
A parade to commemorate the Day of the Dead was held in Mexico City. EPA
People attend the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. AFP
People attend the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. AFP
A woman with a Catrina mask attends the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. AFP
A woman with a Catrina mask attends the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. AFP
People on stilts take part in the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. AFP
People on stilts take part in the Day of the Dead parade at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. AFP
A portrait of late Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is displayed next to an altar at the entrance to the Mexican embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the Day of the Dead celebrations. AP Photo
A portrait of late Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is displayed next to an altar at the entrance to the Mexican embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the Day of the Dead celebrations. AP Photo

— This article was originally published on November 2, 2021

Normal People

Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
 

Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

The Details

Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

RACE CARD

4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m

5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m

5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m

6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m

6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m

7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m

More from this package

 


 

On Women's Day
Results

2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar

3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar

4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash

5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy

Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
While you're here
You might also like
THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

The specs: 2018 Audi RS5

Price, base: Dh359,200

Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

The Cairo Statement

 1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations

2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred

3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC  

4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.

5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.

6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

While you're here
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg

Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

While you're here
Results

Male 51kg Round 1

Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.

Male 54kg Round 1

Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; ​​​​​​​Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; ​​​​​​​Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.

Male 57kg Round 1

Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.

Men 86kg Round 1

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1

​​​​​​​Men 63.5kg Round 1

Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.

Female 45kg quarter finals

Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.

Female 48kg quarter finals

Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.

Female 57kg quarter finals

Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.

SEMI-FINAL

Monterrey 1 

Funes Mori (14)

Liverpool 2

Keita (11), Firmino (90 1)

Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)

Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg

Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD

More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THE BIO

Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m

8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
%3Cp%3EDisplay%3A%2040mm%2C%20324%20x%20394%3B%2044mm%2C%20368%20x%20448%3B%20Retina%20LTPO%20OLED%2C%20up%20to%201000%20nits%3B%20Ion-X%20glass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EProcessor%3A%20Apple%20S8%2C%20W3%20wireless%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECapacity%3A%2032GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMemory%3A%201GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPlatform%3A%20watchOS%209%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EHealth%20metrics%3A%202nd-gen%20heart%20rate%20sensor%2C%20workouts%2C%20fall%2Fcrash%20detection%3B%20emergency%20SOS%2C%20international%20emergency%20calling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EConnectivity%3A%20GPS%2FGPS%20%2B%20cellular%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20LTE%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Apple%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDurability%3A%20Water%20resistant%20up%20to%2050m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%20269mAh%20Li-ion%2C%20up%20to%2018h%2C%20wireless%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECards%3A%20eSIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFinishes%3A%20Aluminium%3B%20midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%20Watch%20SE%2C%20magnetic-to-USB-C%20charging%20cable%2C%20band%2Floop%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPrice%3A%20Starts%20at%20Dh999%20(40mm)%20%2F%201%2C119%20(44mm)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox

Price, base / as tested: Dh76,900 / Dh110,900

Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder

Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: Torque: 352Nm @ 2,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.5L / 100km

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA

FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).

FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.

FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.

FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds.  Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.

FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)

FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.

Updated: November 04, 2022, 4:17 AM`
MexicoFestivals