 |
| Flowers were for sale everywhere for the Day of the Dead |
 |
| A Catrina at the airport |
On the way home we stopped by the main cemetery in the city. The adjacent park was filled with elaborately decorated altars containing ofrendas of favorite foods and beverages as well as photos and personal items of the departed. Flowers, wreaths and food were for sale and the mood was celebratory. Marigolds are the flower of choice for this day.
Toward evening we walked to the local cemetery just outside the small village where my family lives. I was surprised to see buildings built over many of the graves, some very elaborate and others very modest. Families sat together visiting and eating. The graves are decorated and in some areas, people stay all night by candle light hoping to visit with the departed.
When I left the next day, I noticed an altar in the Guadalajara airport and a couple of Catrinas stood in prominent places. I took a lot of pictures and the 2 minute slide show below combines images of the city celebration followed by photos of the village cemetery.
It seems like a nice idea to set aside a special time to remember and get together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. They seem to have a healthier attitude toward death than we do in our culture.
ReplyDeleteJust like in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteThe New Orleans tradition, where I grew up, was to decorate the family tombs on All Soul's Day. It's interesting to learn the traditions in different places, and especially in different countries.
ReplyDeleteI always like learning about other traditions around the world.
ReplyDeleteI like the remembrance, the flowers especially and had never heard of a Catrina. I thought it was a pretty name for a girl.
I wasn't sure what the day of the dead was about so thanks. I wonder how you get full sized videos.Mine come out so tiny that I don't want to bother.
ReplyDelete