Dia de Los Muertos

Artist: Francisco Cabello

Or for the Spanish impaired, Day of the Dead.  Celebrated from October 31 (think Halloween) through November 2^nd, these days allow the departed to return to the mortal world to visit loved ones. The spirits of babies and children who have died (called angelitos, “little angels”) arrive on October 31st at midnight, spend an entire day with their families and then leave. Adults come the following day November 2^nd.

Day of the Dead is the time families can pay homage to those who have passed on. They believe, through a series of rituals and offerings, that this is the one time of year their dead relatives can return to share a meal and have their souls return to be close to them again.   The people in Mexico welcome the spirits of their families with the delicious smell of food in the air, candies decorated like skulls, and lighted candles to guide them home again. Gravestones are decorated, and the whole family will gather in the graveyard to await and pay respects to the deceased.

When I first started coming to Mexico, I observed the cemeteries, decorated with flowers and overflowing with food, toys and favorite possessions of the departed.  Family members gather at the gravesites and bring the favorite foods and possession of those that have passed on. The spirits are greeted with offerings of food and things that the person enjoyed in life. It is believed that the spirits consume the essence and the aroma of the foods that are offered. When the spirits depart, the living consume the food and share it with their family, friends and neighbors.

Other items that are placed on the altar include sugar skulls often with the person’s name inscribed on the top, pan de muertos, a special bread that is made especially for the season, and marigolds which lend a special fragrance to the altar and are thought to lure the deceased back home. This was a celebration of life and I was impressed.

Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar skulls are labor intensive and made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull makers. These
wonderful artisans are disappearing as fabricated and imported candy skulls take their place.

Look around town in many of the little shops and you are sure to find skeletons in almost every shop. some basic, some very ornate…these are all connected to Dia de los Muertos.

I love everything this artist paints. Francisco Cabello!  This is one of my favorites.

Artist: Francisco Cabello