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Puerto Vallarta |
November 2
|
As a bit of history, Day of the
Dead traditions appear rooted in pre-Hispanic beliefs that the spirits
of the dead
went neither to a heaven or hell, but
wandered for years before entering Mictlan, the "Land of the Dead".
Exact traditions and celebrations vary
throughout Mexico due to its sixty or so indigenous groups. In some areas
the relatives of the deceased burn incense
over the altars, while in other communities people light
bonfires in their house doorways to
guide the dead home.
Some Mexicans have all night vigils while
others arrange an afternoon meal
at the gravesides of their departed loved
ones, friends and relatives.
These gatherings are often festive and
solemn by turn.
The Day of the Dead holiday in Mexico
also combines the Spanish catholicism of All Saints and All Souls Days
with the symbols and mythology of the
earlier pagan and more ancient indigenous traditions
(much like the annual Our
Lady of Guadalupe celebration combines catholic and pagan influences).
Day of the Dead altar to renowned Mexican
poet, writer and intellectual Octavio Paz
(1914-1998) who was awarded the
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1990.
Day of the Dead altar in Puerto Vallarta,
October 31, 2010
Notice the Catrina (female skeletal
figure representing death), the many skulls, often made out of sugar,
and of course the ubiquitous candles
- as Dia de los Muertos traditions would have it, to help light the way back
to
their ancestral homes on Earth, and
for their return to the "Land of the Dead"
Orange marigolds are popularly believed
to attract the souls of the departed
La Catrina (middle) has become the referential
image of Death in Mexico, where it is common to see her
embodied as part of the celebrations
of Day of the Dead throughout the country.
Here we see La katrina standing at the
local beachfront restaurant Langostinos on Halloween night 2013
Commemorating Richard Burton and Elizabeth
Taylor at a restaurant along
the Cuale River near their former residences
in Gringo Gulch
One of Vallarta's many main attractions
- And the large skeleton representing death
in front of the Mandala nightclub downtown
on the Malecon boardwalk
Halloween night, October 31, 2016
In memory of the children who died in the earthquake
in Mexico City on September 19, 2017
Day of the Dead altar to Puerto Vallarta
resident and champion boxer Marco Antonio Nazareth, 23,
who died July 22, 2009 from brain injuries
suffered in a boxing match several days earlier
This is quite a full, fine example
of an altar: with many candles, offerings of the deceased's favorite foods
and drinks, the Catrina and skeleton,
Day of the Dead bread, personal artifacts and memorabilia,
handwritten cards with prayers, poems
or words about the person being honored,
and orange as the dominant color to
welcome home the spirit of the departed.
Cultural celebrations in the main downtown
Zocalo with a young mariachi group
playing music to the public on the night
of November 1, 2016
Mexico Dia de Los Muertos commemorating
a member of DIF
From the local Vallarta Institute of
Culture - notice the skulls,
marigolds, the string of bones, and
a rather unusual jaguar mask.
Altar to children and youngsters
of low income who have died of cancer in town and were
assisted by the Vallarta charity Canica (Support Center for Children with
Cancer) & the Women's Association of Vallarta.
While taking this photo and admiring
the altar I met and talked to the mother of one of the
boys in the main photo area, "almost
7 years old", who had died 2 years ago.
This is the only Day of the Dead altar
I've noted specifically for children - see how it is loaded with toys.
This colorful one has just about every
traditional item in the altar from
the skeleton/catrina to the orange marigold
flowers and candles.
A colorful Day of the Dead altar on
the Cuale River island, with ancient traditional motifs and patterns.
This is one of my favorite commemorative
altars because of the bright colors and large centerpiece.
The main town cemetery El Panteon in
the 5 de diciembre colonia/neighborhood
is the site of many observances during
this day and night, but compared to more traditional
parts of Mexico like Pátzcuaro
in Michoacan or the state of Morelos, festivities in Vallarta are rather sedate.
Puerto Vallarta Day of the Dead celebration
at the municipal flea market November 2011
Along the downtown Malecon on November 2,
2017 - two towering Katrina figures representing death
Altar at downtown city hall in November
2012 to Carlos Fuentes Macias (Nov 11, 1928-May 15, 2012)
who was an internationally acclaimed
Mexican short story writer, novelist, essayist and screenwriter.
He received numerous awards in his lifetime
including the Mexican National Prize for Arts and Sciences,
the UNESCO Pablo Picasso medal, and
the National Order of Merit of France
At the Cuates y Cuetes restaurant bar
on Los Muertos beach November 1, 2012
Posing at the old downtown city hall 2016
At the municipal flea market along
the Cuale River
One of the downtown City Hall altars
on November 1, 2013 and
dedicated to Clairita Yetter from France,
who lived more than 35 years in the city
and was known for her "wonderful cooking
and artistic style".
The sugar skulls are the allusion to death
which is always present
Las calaveras de azucar son la alusion
a la muerte siempre presente
This one was made in memory of doctor
David Lawrence Rhodes
Photo from November 2, 2015
University Center Octavio Paz - November 2017
"If my voice silences with death, my
heart will continue talking to you."
Katrina figure and the skull made of sugar
more Day of
the Dead photos
& information
"Tears make the road back to heaven slippery." - Saying
"It is better to die on your feet
than to live on your knees." - revolutionary Emiliano Zapata
2018 2019 dia de los muertos 2020 2021
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