Flavors of the Sun: Dia de los Muertos

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Day of the Dead: The Altars

I left the people in the photo to show the size of the calaca, or skull

Day of the Dead: The Altars

Life here in Mexico is still so imbued with the colors, the celebration, the sheer driving force of El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, that I couldn't resist just one more post. I promise to return to food and recipes this week.

In today's post I'll show you how even in the commercial areas and stores, the dead are not forgotten. They are loved, remembered, and honored always, but visibly so on this day and this week.

For more images of Day of the Dead:

Day of the Dead: Setting Up the Altar

Images of Day of the Dead (2010)

Day of the Dead Market in San Miguel (2011)

Fruit, roasted pumpkin, candied squash

Designs made from dried fava beans, black beans, and red corn

Pan de Muerto, or Day of the Dead Bread, and sugar cane

Even the dead love chocolate

And once again, from Mexican poet Octavio Paz:

"For a resident of New York, Paris or London death is a word that is never uttered because it burns the lips. A Mexican, on the other hand, frequents it, defies it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it. It is one of his favorite toys and his most permanent love."

Please ask permission before using photos. Thanks!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Day of the Dead: Setting Up the Altar

Day of the Dead: Setting Up the Altar

by Victoria Challancin

I am surrounded by Death, and it is smiling.

I am surrounded by Death, and it is smiling. That's what came to me today as I strolled through the Día de los Muertos market that appears near the end of October every year in San Miguel. It is the "go-to" place for all your altar needs, and it is bursting with life overlaid with a tinge of Death. But not sadness. No, not sadness.

Everything You Need for the Altar

Every home in Mexico, almost without exception, sets up an altar to honor those who have passed. Some are simple--a photo, a flower, a saint or a cross; some are incredibly complex. Here are just a few photos I took at this year's market, where you can buy altar decorations.

For past posts on Day of the Dead, click here for some history, a brief post on The Poetry of Death, and photos of altars from the humble to the extravagant and here for more market photos of alfeñiques, or the sugar skulls and sugar figures from last year's market.

Candles and papel chino or papel picado

"The Mexican is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, and celebrates it. It is one of his favorite playthings and his most steadfast love." Octavio Paz, Mexican poet

Skulls and Figures