OT Overdue pictures from Day of the Dead

Old 01-12-2012, 11:23 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
A jug fills drop by drop
Thread Starter
 
TakingCharge999's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,784
OT Overdue pictures from Day of the Dead

The ritual to honor and remember the ones that have gone before us is 3000 years old and started with the indigenous people in Mexico.

In Nov. 2nd people go visit the cemetery and bring flowers and colorful decorations to cheer up the spirits that are coming to visit us.

Its customary to place an altar at home with pictures of the deceased, water and traditional food like bread that is prepared only around this day, because the trip from the Other life to this world is a long one and their souls are probably tired. Candles are placed to guide the spirits home.

People mock Dead by portraying it as a cheerful character, a female skeleton, who we call "Catrina", an elegant lady. Skulls (made out of candy) symbolize death and rebirth.

There are also small poems prepared which mention entertainers, public figures, some politicians that we would like the Catrina to take away immediately... we call the poems "calaveritas". And there are contests to see who has the most creative and funny poem.

The tradition of mocking the Dead is because there is a belief the souls are well and alive and there is no Death after all, just transitions.

Anyway enough with my clumsy "intro" to this tradition, here are some overdue pictures I have meant to share all these weeks but was too consumed by my codieness to have any energy, now I have it back so prepare yourself for totally off topic miscellaneous picture threads from Yours truly.
TakingCharge999 is offline  
Old 01-12-2012, 11:30 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
A jug fills drop by drop
Thread Starter
 
TakingCharge999's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,784
This was an Ofrenda in honor of one athlete who was going to participate in the Panamerican games but died tragically with her family in a car accident days before it started. The Ofrenda was placed in the City Museum.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0622.jpg (62.5 KB, 85 views)
TakingCharge999 is offline  
Old 01-12-2012, 11:32 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
A jug fills drop by drop
Thread Starter
 
TakingCharge999's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,784
Close up
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0625.jpg (59.6 KB, 85 views)
TakingCharge999 is offline  
Old 01-12-2012, 11:34 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
A jug fills drop by drop
Thread Starter
 
TakingCharge999's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,784
The Catrina
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0626.jpg (70.7 KB, 85 views)
TakingCharge999 is offline  
Old 01-12-2012, 11:35 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
A jug fills drop by drop
Thread Starter
 
TakingCharge999's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,784
Traditional flowers
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0624.jpg (16.2 KB, 85 views)
TakingCharge999 is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 04:05 AM
  # 6 (permalink)  
I'm no angel!
 
dollydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: tampa, fl
Posts: 6,728
I use to own a home in Lake Chapala. The flowers in my yard were breathtaking. I really miss being able to go there.

Thank you for the pictures, brought back fond memories.
dollydo is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 05:33 AM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
catlovermi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,294
Wow, thanks so much for the cross-cultural experience!

CLMI
catlovermi is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 07:53 AM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
 
MyBetterWorld's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 427
I have never seen anything like that........thank you for posting!
MyBetterWorld is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 08:47 AM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
Tuffgirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 4,719
I haven't either - way cool! And so much color! I miss color in my monochrome winter world...
Tuffgirl is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 06:14 PM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Belgian Sheepdog Adictee
 
laurie6781's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: In Today
Posts: 6,101
Thank you TC!!!

Living so close to the border and having the very HIGH Hispanic population here, we quite a bit of the Hispanic culture celebrated here, we see this and other traditions.

I have to say though, this last 11/2 there was nothing THAT MAGNIFICENT, but all were very colorful and beautiful.

Again, thank you so much.

Love and hugs,
laurie6781 is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 06:26 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Member
 
Impurrfect's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 31,179
((TC))) - that is really cool. I like the idea of honoring those we have lost. In my church, we have "all Saints day" and it's sort of the same, though a bit more current. All the people the congregation has lost are printed in the bulletin. My mom was the church secretary, died 20 years ago, and to see her name included was really a cool thing.

Hugs and prayers,

Amy
Impurrfect is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 06:29 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 36
What a beautiful shrine for a lovely young woman...I've never seen anything like it although I am aware of "The Day of the Dead".

Thanks for sharing..
arty
artygirl is offline  
Old 01-13-2012, 07:56 PM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
 
lillamy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: right here, right now
Posts: 6,516
Beautiful pictures!
lillamy is offline  
Old 01-14-2012, 10:42 AM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
 
Freedom1990's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 10,182
Amazing pictures! Thank you, TC!
Freedom1990 is offline  
Old 01-14-2012, 04:41 PM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Member
 
LaTeeDa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: behind the viewfinder...
Posts: 6,278
That's so cool. Thank you for the pics and especially for the cross-cultural education. What a fascinating tradition!

L
LaTeeDa is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:06 PM.