Mexico's Day of the Dead - A Oaxaca Celebration
- By: Camilla Toniolo
- Created on: 12/29/2008
- Rated By 3 Users
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If you thought that in the States we had something pretty crazy with Halloween, wait until you spend the annual three-day holiday of October 31, November 1 and November 2 in Oaxaca, Mexico. This thriving cultural center in southern Mexico's mountainous coastal region is famous for its many indigenous peoples, the handcrafts they produce, and their traditional celebrations such as Noche de Rabanos around Christmas time, and Guelaguetza, a festival of the corn harvest held in July. However, The Day of The Dead holiday in fall is one of the most colorful and most popular with tourists.
Yes, like Halloween all over America, there are some kids dressed in costume, trick-or-treating for pennies. And, like in San Francisco and New York, there are parades down the street as well. But the comparison ends there and to think it’s the same would be missing the point.
The focus of this very Mexican national holiday is the Celebration of The Dead.
Celebrating The Dead in Style
The goal, which is to remember the Dead and respect them, is achieved by spending the better part of two days in the local cemeteries, bringing to the graves flowers, favorite foods, pictures and tens of other offerings -- even a Mariachi band -- and sometimes to make paths of flower petals and lit candles that lead right to their graves in case the family ancestors have lost their way.
Altars that represent “heaven” are built, with everyone taking part in their construction. Teenagers from the local art schools cut, paint, and paste all day, building backgrounds for the very elaborate altar stands commissioned by individual families.
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