Dia de los Muertos is a truly special time to explore Oaxaca. I’ll admit I didn’t know much about Dia de los Muertos before I went to Oaxaca, just that I'd seem some photos, and knew I wanted to see it for myself. It turned out to be one of the most interesting and spectacular things I’ve seen!
Dia de los Muertos is not Mexican Halloween; it’s a time when Mexican families remember, and welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives. There are many traditions associated with the holiday- which I’ll try to illustrate through some of my photos. It also seems to be a good excuse for a party :) Throughout the week I was there, there were countless parades, dancing, concerts, fireworks, and more to celebrate the holiday.
The whole town gets into the spirit. Everywhere you look there are colorful displays, giant skeletons, and altars.
Spectacular entryway to a restaurant
The skeletons you see all around town are called 'catrinas,' which originally were a parody of a the upper-class. These ones are outside the Xoxo cemetery (that's Claudia, one of the tour guides I met during my trip)
Huge catrina outside the library (which also had an exhibit of altars)
Cute little display at a bakery
Special street art near the cemetary to celebrate (they refresh them every year)
There are also plenty of parades aka comparsas throughout the city. Some are officially organized, and others just seem to kind of spring up.
Preparations are sold in markets all over town in the days leading up to Dia de los Muertos: special bread (pan de muertos) and flowers are two of the key ingredients!
Pan! The more common one has a little head baked into it, but I thought this was a prettier photo.
Women selling flowers in the market in Teotitlán del Valle
On the 31st and the 1st, families visit the graves of their loved ones to clean them, place flowers, and sometimes even decorate. I was told that some families stay at the cemetery all night to welcome their relatives' souls (though I didn't stay to see that)
The cemetery at Teotitlán del Valle
A grave at the old cemetery at Xoxo (one of the more elaborate decorations we saw)
Tons of tourists flock to the cemeteries to capture photos (myself included....though I just use my cell phone not a huge fancy camera like these guys)
And of course, there is lots of great people watching/people-photographing to be done. Almost everyone seems to get their face painted (even the gringos) and there are some really impressive costumes as well!
Chicas in one of the main plazas
A handmade costume won the 'catrinas' costume contest in barrio Xochimilco (she won 3,000 MXN which is like $150 USD- a pretty big prize!)
Altars for the deceased are also an important tradition. We got the chance to visit a family's altar in Teotitlán del Valle, which was a great way to see how real people still keep traditions alive today. Many restaurants and shops also set up beautiful altars.
The small altar on the left is for los angelitos - deceased children
A more modern altar in a restauarnt in Oaxaca city.
Sand tapestries, aka tapetes de arena can also be found around town, with either Catholic or indigenous imagery. I even got the chance to help make one at my hotel- it represented the 13 months of the Zapotec calendar. I think I need some more practice before I go pro though, it was hard work!
Tapeta in a gallery
The hotel staff made this one....my panel is the one on the left, with the orange flower thingie.
I'm so glad that I got to fulfill my bucket-list wish of visiting Oaxaca during this magical time. It seemed like everywhere I turned, there was something interesting going on, and it made an already beautiful city even more colorful and dynamic. It's definitely an experience I'd recommend!