Day of the Dead

While in Oaxaca, Mexico last year, I photographed many things. Between the ofrendas, cemetery visits, and architecture, it was an amazing trip. Bright and colorful is the norm, but for Day of the Dead or All Souls Day, everything is escalated. Cobbled streets, door ways, just about everything is festooned with intricately cut paper flags which are also known as papel picado.

Flowers are shipped in by the truck load from local fields to fill ofrendas, cemeteries and add ornament to entry ways.

Ofrendas are everywhere, in many sizes. A special bread is baked and offered at market, sold as pan de muerto or bread of the dead, it's yet another offering to lure ancestors to visit. 

In one particular market, a local celebrity is known as the Frida Kahlo look alike;

Cemeteries open for all night celebrations with music, food, drink and family conversations. Special candles are three feet tall, to burn the whole night. My first cemetery visit was a thing of reverence. So deep was this feeling that I don't think I can fully explain the experience. 

This year I have created my own ofrenda. There is no doubt that the creation or execution of something so special gives one pause and brings up many emotions. Tonight I will share time with special people that have passed. Some I haven't thought of in a very long time. 

It becomes a journey into the past and reflective examination, a pause in our busy lives. 

 

Comments

[Dan Weil]

Absolutely wonderful and fascinating, as always. The Frida Kahlo lookalike is wonderful. How I would love to photograph and paint her!