Dia de los Muertos

In the Zapotec community of Teotitlán del Valle, outside of Oaxaca, Mexico. I was invited to join this family´s celebration as they remembered their father who passed away exactly one year before. I was able to witness a procession that took place early in the day, then joined them for a Mezcal  indulgent afternoon. I have been invited to spend the afternoon with the families of Teotitlán del Valle on November 2nd as the familes participate in a procession to the cemetery, ushering the spirits of the dead back for another year.

In the Mercado de Abastos in Oaxaca City, Mexico.  Lots of Cempasuchil, or flor de muerto is piled in mountains from corner to corner of the market. It is an amazing sight. This is the market to go to if you are looking for anything remotely related to Dia de los Muertos.

Sugar Skulls are a traditional folk art from Southern Mexico used to celebrate Day of the Dead. Mounds of colorful creations are sold by Indian vendors in open air village markets during the week preceding the celebration of the ancient ritual.

During Dia de los Muertos, spirits of the dead are welcomed back to their homes with beautifully decorated altars made by their loved ones. Sugar skulls, marigolds, candles, incense and special foods adorn the deeply personal home altars. In addition, families take flowers and sugar skulls to their family cemeteries to decorate the tombs on November 2.

Sugar skulls are colorfully decorated with icing, pieces of bright foil, colored sugars and most often bear the name of the deceased loved one being honored. Easy to make by children and adults, sugar skulls can be a wonderful activity regardless of the nature of celebration.

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Otherwise known as altars, ofrenda provide a means of offering appreciation to those who have departed. Altars can be created without strict guidelines, and can be dedicated to any person(s) or event imaginable. It is common to see ofrenda created publicly in relation to political debates, or contemporary world issues.

Generally, altars maintain a reference to the four main elements of nature:

Earth, Wind, Water and Fire.

• Earth is represented by an agricultural element of some fashion. The returning loved ones are nourished by the aromas, and feed on the essence of the food placed out, rather than partaking of it physically. The placement of fruit, grains, and traditional favorite dishes provides an opportunity for the dead to replenish their energy after the journey home.
• Wind is generally represented by fluttering objects, or something that is graceful in its movement. Papel picado banners, long strings of paper cutouts, are very traditional and come in a multitude of colors.
• Water is most often available and offers, again, an opportunity for the souls to find nourishment after their long journey. Water also signifies purity, and renewal.
• Fire is represented by the presence of candles. Candles of various sizes signify those who remain alive; those the dead have left behind. Additional candles are placed for the anima sola, the solitary spirit or soul who has no relatives or friends to care for it.

  Other items represented within ofrenda:

• Mexican Marigold flowers, known as cempasúchil, are often referred to as the Flower of the Dead. They are used extensively in alters as their pungent aroma is said to help guide the dead home. The flowers have historical importance as the Aztecs gathered the wild plant for medicinal, ceremonial and decorative purposes. Throughout rural regions of Mexico, there will often be a trail of its petals from the main thoroughfare to the entrance of a home in order to guide the dead home.
• Copal incense helps attract the spirits. It is made from the dried resin of the copal tree. The incense is somewhat smoky when burned and has what resembles a pine scent. The incense has been widely used since prehispanic times. It is burned year round in Mexican churches and is especially popular in the homes during the Dia de los Muertos celebrations, as well as Semana Santa.
• Photographs and paintings of the individual the altar is commemorating are common.
• Skulls, or calavera, are usually depicted using many materials including lead, sugar and plastic. Calaveras are depicted on many surfaces and for many purposes, including hard hitting political statements. The presence of calavera remind us of our own mortality, and their images have become an integral part of Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
• Grooming items. A bar of soap, a towel, perfume, and the like are placed on the altar in the belief that the dead ones have been on a long journey and would like to refresh themselves for the celebration