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."

©Victoria Challancin.  All Rights Reserved.

Please ask permission before using photos.  Thanks!