Days of the Dead - Oct. 31st

(Karl is going to write this entry.)

One of the occasions I was most excited about experiencing in Mexico was Day of the Dead. While we were not able to experience 100% of what I had hoped we could, the 95% we did experience was extraordinary. To begin, clowns were on hand to make the festive scene:

On Saturday the 31st we went downtown with Julie Lozada Ocampo's sister in law and nephew to see the "ofrendas," altars in honor of deceased people. Julie has been my partner teacher for the last 12 years at Dayton High School and her first husband, Gustavo, was a Pueblan. Tragically, he died about 7 years ago. We have enjoyed coming to know his family - four generations in the family house (mother, sister, niece and nephew, and niece's infant son). We thought of Gustavo in our excursion and marveled at the coincidences of life that brought us together to think of him on this particular day. We thought he must have enjoyed the connection from his vantage point.

Everywhere is the incursion of Halloween into Day of the Dead festivities. Not the same, but cultures do blend together!!

This poignant offering is in honor of a day care that burned down in the state of Sonora. 49 people, mostly children, perished in the fire. This is the same event honored by Elena's class in the school observance. Notice the children's snacks of popcorn, candy, etc., toys, pictures. Very sad!

This altar honors the students massacred in a square named Talteloco in Mexico City Oct. 2, 1968, prior to the Olympics in Mexico City. Excessive government response to say the least!

Day of the Dead Folk Art!

The "death" of Rock and Roll. . . or it's legends. Can you identify the pictures?

Reminder: "Rock is not Dead!"

This altar honors children who have died. It was appreciated by Gustavo's sister who has experienced the loss of a child.

Many altars honored political leaders past and present. These are the heroes of Mexico's struggle for independence.

This altar honors the many, many unsolved slayings of women in the city of Juarez during the last decade or so.

Not sure of the subject, but very colorful!

Dedicated to the children who perished from the swine flue.

In honor of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo

Quotes of the artist, translated: "I want to arrive so full of life at death"

and "The heighth of happiness is not to have been born."

The death of a luchador / movie star.

This one honors the Aztecs, whose tradition became Day of the Dead.

Notice how the cultures fuse with the cross prominent in the post colonial altars?

One of Stephen's favorites . . . a representation of Mictlantecutli, the Aztec god of the dead.

Twin "Catrinas"

La muerte sonadora

The life and death of art.

Traveling minstrels as plentiful as the clowns.