El dia de los Muertos en Mexico

[mmousefan]

Greetings everyone.

 

Today ( oct 31 ) started here in Mexico our annual Festivity of El dia de Muertos "day of the dead". This is a very old and representative celebration of my country.

This is the time of the year when we remember our loved ones that had passed away. When the familys reunite to celebrate with joy, laughter, music, food, sweets and some tears, the lifes of the death ones.

Here in Mexico we have a really unique way to see the death. We laugh at her and with her. Of course we respect her ( and remeber I call the death HER, later you will see why ) but we dont want to spend this days crying for our loved ones, insted we make a celebration, a party. We make special food, candy and bread. We make altars where we put the favorite food of the people that had passed away. We put pictures, lots and lost of flowers and candels.

Well I think I better start with the pics and Ill be explainning more about this festivity.

 

I live in a mexican state called Yucatan. Here is where the ancient Mayan civilization lived. Thats why "the day of the dead" its called Hanal Pixan here. Hanal Pixan is mayan for "dinner for the souls". The tradition says that the souls of our loved ones come to visit us from heaven. They come to our houses and take the esence of the food we place on the altars. The candles ligth guide them to the earth, and the perfume from the flowers also.

Here we make a special food called Mucbilpollo also named Pib. Its like a big "cake" made out of corn dough, chicken, pork, tomatoe, onion, and beans. Really delicious but its only made once a year

I took this pics last monday when we made the Pibs here in my house.

 

The corn dough (like the one tortillas are made of) with beans is placed on banano leaves.

 

Then its filled with chicken, pork, onion, tomatoe and some chiles.

 

Then a corn sauce is served on top.

 

Closed with more dough.

 

More banano leaves and into the oven for about 3 hours.

 

And this is the result.

 

Really delicious Pib. One of my favorite foods.

 

Today ( oct 31 ) I went to downtown to buy flowers, candels and candys to put the altar in my house.

When I got there I founded out that an altar exposition was taking place at town square and ofcourse I took pics to show you how traditional altars look like.

Most of this altars where made by people from rural comunities that came to Merida to show them.

 

Lots of food ( that later they gived them out to the people around ). Incense is burned to call the souls.

 

Flowers and religious images.

 

Really colorfull.

 

A funny looking fruit. I think It looks like a hidden Mickey Mouse. Hello Elissa

 

Our magnificent Cathedral trough trees.

 

So beautifull. I love this altar.

 

It was placed inside a little tipical Mayan house. And they made it here.

 

We also place some belongins of our loved ones.

 

This one was smaller but pretty.

 

Some of them are showing some everyday life things around the altar

 

This is one of the bigger ones. It was placed by our city goverment. The lady on the rigth is wearin a "Terno" tipical outfit for the ladys here. Ans its really really exspensive beacuse its hand made with crossstitching. One Terno ike that can easily cost about 1000 dlls. Thats why its rarely worn, only for special ocations. Most of the women only have 1.

 

Some boys on a well. They are wearing mans tipical outfit. The Guayabera or Filipina. This is not a rare cloth for guys to have. I think I have like 4. But my grandpa has like 10 or more. Its really comon to see men in this.

 

After visiting the altar exposition I crossed the crossed the street to see what was happening on the Cathedrals explanade. I founded a lot of kids drawing a "Muerte Catrina" the death as a lady. Thats why we call the death HER. Because a very popular artist from past century draw the death as a rich lady from XIX century.

 

They draw it with coal and white chalk.

 

Two girls. I love this pic. And it shows how since little we are teached how to not to fear to death. To laugh at her like I said before.

 

This is the final result.

 

It was huge and beautifull. I really loved it.

 

Ugly me with Her. LOL

 

After that I went to the market to buy the stuff for my houses altar. It was really full with peolple trying to buy the same stuff as me, thats why I didnt took any pics.

 

I got home and started placing the altar at about 2 pm. I ended around 5. Finally I prayed infront of it, beacuse thats why they are made for. To pray for the souls of our loved ones.

 

My altar. Not as big as some from downtown but still beautifull. Im really proud of it. And I think that grandpa and greatgrandma will love it when they come tomorrow to visit us.

 

Today is the day of the kids that had passed away. thats why the candels on top are not lighted.

 

Some of the candys and little skull made out of marzipan.

 

Here you can see the top part of it. Its dedicated to my dads father and to my moms grandmom. You can also see the tipical sugar skulls. All this candels are going to be lit up tomorrow when we celebrate the death adults.

 

Finally two pics without the flash.

 

 

Tnks for looking at my Photo Report. I hope that this can show to you how beautifull and special is this time of the year for my people. Come tomorrow when I post pics from the altar in all its shiny glory and with lots of more food.

 

See you later.

 

Joel Saury

 

PS: Feliz dia de muertos Carlos (Frade)

[the sound]

1 comment.

 

 

Were are the sugar Enchiladas! And Tacos!

[mmousefan]

LOL there are no sugar enchiladas or tacos, normal ones are delicious enough.

[arrowfanman]

Wow! Thank you for that super cool trip report Joel! I definitely have to put this on my "Things to see before I die" list. Thanks for the personal look at your town and tradition.

 

 

-Jahan

[verticalzero]

Great pic's and a spooky one of "death".

 

To celebrate a "death" is the best way to deal with the person/s who have left our world. Never hid your emotions and distance yourself from anyone.

 

Use your time on Earth to the fullest and enjoy life.

 

Life and Death is a celebration

[mmousefan]

Thanks guys for the nice comments.

 

Yes Jahan it really is a great time to visit Mexico, the weather is wonderful (beacuse its not to hot and hummid as in summer) plus you get to try "only once a year" food and candys.

 

Well to day is the celebration on death adults and the Solemnity of all Saints for us Roman Catholics. So its a really important day. Ill be posting some pics from my altar wich will have more food and candels.

 

Hope you check it out.

[pvcoasterguy]

It's a very cool holiday. We always do something to celebrate it in our Spanish classes--this year, we made an altar for all of our classes, and presented what we were adding to the altar. I added a photo of my dog an I from quite a while ago.

 

Our art museum also has some really cool displays set up for El Día de Los Muertos, so hopefully I'll be able to get there and see them.

 

Thanks for posting about this! It is one of the coolest traditions.

[TheGrayGirl]

That is one of the best PTR's I have ever seen!

I have been working on a project for Day of the Dead for Spanish class pretty much all afternoon, and while taking a break I stumbled across this, and I am happy I did!

 

The altars are amazing, and the concept of the holiday is so simple, yet so touching.

 

Thank you so much for sharing this special day with us!

It is awesome to see something you have been studying in such vivid, breathtaking photos!!!

[mmousefan]

Hi again

 

Yesterday ( nov 1 ) we celebrated the adult dead. this day we put more food on the altar and ofcourse some beer (because my great grandma liked it). Now all the candels are lit up. This day everybody prays for the souls of their loved ones.

 

 

 

Grandpa and greatgrandma pics. Also notice the pib and beer.

 

At nigth.

 

 

Top of the altar. Dedicated to the dead adult.

 

Bottom of the altar. Dedicated to dead children.

 

Also yesterday nigth I hosted a party in my house to reunite with my friends to eat tamales, pibs and lost and lots of tipical food. Its was a party with yucatans theme so some of us dressed with tipical outfits of my region.

 

Im the third from left to rigth.

 

Today ( nov 2 ) is the day of all souls. In some regions of mexico is the last day of the festivites and they say goodbye to all the souls. this is the day when everybody shares the food from the altars with family and friends. Because the food from the altar has to be eaten, it cant be tossed to the garbage.

Here in yucatan the last day of the festivity is in a week. we call it "ochavario" and thats the day when food is put again in the altar and final prayers for the dead are made.

Today im going to visit the cementery with my family to pray on grandpas grave.

Ill post some pics later

 

tnks for reading

Joel Saury

[Bush985]

Great Photos.

 

I just went to a talk on Day of the Dead a few weeks ago and it was very interesting. I knew the basis of the Holiday, but didn't know about the other things involved. Again great photos.

 

-RD