Monday, November 2, 2009

Day of the Dead.....

Day of the Dead is the most special and unique of festivals here in Mexico, the time when ancestors and departed loved ones are honoured and remembered in the most wonderful of ways. Here is the Ofrende ( altar to the dead ) set up this year in the reception area of my school....

And here is the ofrende built by all our students, on the edge of the school basketball court, using all their own artwork and craftwork from recent classes....

Day of the Dead is marked by these beautiful ofrendes set up in every possible corner...


and by the flowers on sale everywhere. These are marigolds and other beautiful blooms for sale in the market in Patzcuaro, Michoacan.....

And this is how they are used to decorate the graves ready for the overnight vigils in the cemeteries - this one is Tzintzuntzan cemetery near Patzcuaro...

And the final image is of the sugar skulls and calavera candy sold on street stalls everywhere. These ones were for sale in the markets in Guanajuato...

Let's take one last look at that beautiful ofrende set up in my school today by our students...

This year I will be in Nicaragua for Day of the Dead and will be reporting back on how the festival is celebrated in this country. If you get a chance to witness this festival - Do not miss it!! For other global glimpses check out the My World Tuesday postings by clicking here.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

It does sound like a wonderful celebration. It certainly is colourful!

Sylvia K said...

Oh, it was wonderful! Got to see some of the best in San Miguel. So so colorful and beautiful! Your photos are fantastic, Catherine! Love the collages!

Enjoy and have a great week!

Sylvoa

Coffeedoff said...

That an amazing thing to do. It is so colourful. Great photos!

A Cuban In London said...

The first thought that came to my head was, what a marvellous array of colours! Absolutely marvellous. Many thanks. It's strange that on a day where people celebrate the dead there's so much colour around :-).

Greetings from London.

Fly Girl said...

Never saw a Dya of the Dead celebration that I didn't enjoy. I love the colors and flowers and of course, the sugar skulls!

Louise said...

A little more elaborate than our Memorial Day in the U.S. The flowers everywhere are just wonderful.

J said...

Love the colours, it makes our graveyards seem so dour. Also seems a more sensible approach to death, making it part of life rather than ignoring it.

Oman said...

every nation truly celebrate and observe the halloween differently. your celebration is so colorful. thanks for sharing.

PeterParis said...

Wonderful, just wonderful!! Nice as such, but also thanks to your fantastic collages!

Catherine said...

Thanks for stopping by everyone...will get back to you all when I return from Nicaragua..thanks for the appreciative comments...

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

A feast for the eyes and the soul. I do love this day of remembering. I don't like how it gets commercialized here stateside, but that seems to be the case with most of the sacred holidays.

Catherine said...

Hi paula - thanks for your comment...some Halloween stuff is creeping here here but the real traditions are as strong as ever..