Dia de los Muertos display - Image via Wikipedia I spent 10 years in Albuquerque where I came to love all kinds of things - New Mexican chiles (green and red), New Mexican food (not like any you've ever eaten - my green chile stew will make you cry with joy), all kinds of Mexican folk art along with the many amazing artists in New Mexico creating their own works of beauty influenced by all the beauty around them.
The other thing I learned to love there is Dia de Los Muertos. It's a beautiful tradition of honoring the dead that doesn't really come close to Halloween in terms of pure creativity and deeper spiritual meaning. Celebrated on November 2, this a day where people come together to celebrate the dead and our memories of them.
Cemeteries are visited. Graves are apruced up and private altars are built that include marigolds, sugar skulls, and special figurines that are made for them along with the deceased's favorite food and drink. Here are some spectacular altars.
The sugar skulls are used for decoration, are eaten, and are little works of art in their own right.
I think my favorite thing, however, is all the skull figurines that are made and placed in altars, sometimes in tableaus, but always humorous if also macabre.
Also fabulous and amazing are the works of modern artists who combine themes of Dia de los Muertos into personal statements.
If you want to check out more cool Dia de los Muertos stuff that's even for sale check out the gift shop for the International Museum of Folk Art in Santa Fe. If you're ever in Santa Fe, this is a can't miss museum - it's my favorite of all the museums I've ever been to because of its breadth and its use of all kinds of interactivity to enliven and educate. Plus I saw Jodie Foster in the museum and in the gift shop there which was kind of cool at the time.
Last thing - take a moment tomorrow to remember your deceased loved ones with joy and celebration. If you're feeling really adventurous, make Pan de Muerto, it's tasty and easy to make. Many communities have their own festivals for Dia de los Muertos - Albuquerque has a great one, but LA's is truly fabulous. Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful tradition that helps you take a different perspective on what is a sad, but natural and inevitable part of the cycle of life.
What incredible pictures! I have always been interested in this celebration -- I must do a visit out to Albuquerque one day!!
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