Not at all scary or sad, despite an abundance of skulls and skeletons, the annual Day of the Dead festival, on November 1st and 2nd, is a joyous, Pre-Columbian tradition in Mexico—a time for festive remembrances of departed loved ones whose souls or spirits are dropping by to pay a visit. It is a wilder, more spirit-minded cousin to Halloween, that celebrates death in a joyous, meaningful and colorful way.
Although celebrated in many U.S. communities with large Mexican populations, Albuquerque and Mesilla/Las Cruces have a heritage of celebrating with particular gusto, going all out with a grassroots parade on November 2. “Anyone can be in the parade, as long as they paint on a skeleton’s face and have marigolds, either paper or the real thing, says a Maria Brazil, a volunteer co-director.
Woodcarving, Day of the Dead Altar: Davis Villafanez
Woodcarving, Day of the Dead Altar: Davis Villafanez

Altars to the dead should be festooned with marigolds and small objects that reflect the personality of the one being remembered. In addition to food, fruit and flowers, photographs, jewelry and stuffed animals, cigars, bottles of beer and tequila are often prominently displayed. If you build an altar, be sure to place a glass of water nearby to refresh the spirits after their long journey. And don’t forget to add some salt… the spice of life.

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Mexican culture has a long history of being comfortable with death and embracing the circle of life. Mirthful skeletons make merry during Día de los Muertos reminding us of the inevitability of death with mordant humor and satire, poking fun at those of us whose pretensions cause us to forget that soon we, too, will be dust with the rest.

 

Sculptures, Pedro Linares
Sculptures, Pedro Linares

Catrinas (fancy ladies) are favorite characters during the festivities. These statuesque skeletons sporting feathery chapeaux laser our temporal vanities, pulverizing them with their papier-mache wit.

Ethan Hirsh
Ethan Hirsh

Death is on holiday during the Día de los Muertos celebrations, as asserted by these papier-mache skulls embellished with a jungle of plants, animals, birds and insects, complete with gaily painted, marigold eye sockets.

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Food is a huge component of Día de los Muertos, particularly pastries and baked goods. Anise and orange-scented pan de muerto is favorite of mine– a baloony, Koons-ian loaf covered with bread ‘bones’.

hungrysofia.com
hungrysofia.com

Cookies, called Calaveras, in the shape of skulls are the focus of day-long, skull-decorating parties enjoyed by both kids and grown-ups.

casuesweets.com
casuesweets.com

As fall turns inexorably toward winter, the Day of the Dead festivities serve to help us re-experience a powerful and sustaining truth: that the intense sorrow of death and the intense joy of living are indivisibly and forever, One.

Susan Dworski

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