Kandu Adventures: Day of the Dead

Here in Jalisco the Day of the Dead is Celebrated on November 1 and November 2. Add Halloween night in the mix and by looking at the store shelves, one would think the Mexican cultural relishes ghoulish ghostly happenings . The truth is the Day of the Dead is not what most Americans think.

From what I have learned the day of the dead is to literally throw a welcome home party to make their loved ones feel comfortable in their new existence. Grave sites are cleaned, food and flowers brought in. And the living family spends a day or two celebrating live and death at the cemetery. Mariachi bands play, here in Tlajomulco there was a parade from the church to the main in town cemetery. There was a small market area set up outside of the cemetery gates, selling everything from turnips to scary masks and gorgeous bouquets of flowers.

I tried to be discrete with my camera, not understanding that this was a happy party as opposed to the day of mourning that surrounds most when they visit the grave-sites of their dearly departed. These are just random shots of my first day of the dead.

Mask for sale at the market

Two kids watching the crowds from their patio

Pan (sweet breads)

The traditional celebration of Dia de los Muertos started over 3,500 ago by the Aztecs who practiced a month long celebration that honored those who had died and
welcomed their spirits back to earth for a visit.

fresh coco water

Just inside the cemetery walls, cotton-candy

she waits patiently in the shade for customers

Headstone

flowers

the band is warming up for the party

this is a house for the dead

a family's headstone

large poinsettia bushes

Flowers are also symbolically important part of day of the dead. Many face-painting designs of skulls incorporate flowers, and this symbol has a meaning of its own. The flower most associated with Dia de los Muertos in Mexico is the marigold, or Cempazúchitl which is known as the flower of the dead. In Aztec belief the marigold was sacred to Mictlantecuhtli, their god of the dead. According to Mexican belief, the souls of departed family and friends return to earth on the day of the dead, and it is believed the strong scent of marigold helps to guide them back.

cleaning out the casa

every spec must be cleaned out

welcome to the cemetery, be sure to pay your upkeep fees.

Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or "the little angels"), and bottles of tequila, mezcal or pulque or jars of atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased favorite candies on the grave. Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto ("bread of dead"), and sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased

some sites are simple tombs and others look like homes

Jesus is important.

. Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrendas food, so though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. In many places, people have picnics at the grave site, as well.