The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is a holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage (and others) living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and relatives who have died. The celebration occurs on the 1st and 2nd of November, in connection with the Catholic holy days of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day which take place on those days. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl (known in English as "The Lady of the Dead").
So off to see it for ourselves.
But first, let's eat.
Made a crockpot of hurricane chili to feed Dave, Kellie, Jim and me.
Had a couple of glasses of wine and some people (not me) had a little splash of tequila in honor of this day.
I wore the necklace my sister, Geelizzie made with the picture of our sister, Donna in honor of her.
Walked up the eight blocks or so to the Teatro de la Ciudad.
Lots of people were out on the streets in front of their houses.
We heard music!
We are getting closer!
Oops, nope.
That's some garage band practicing in their garage...
Onward to the theatre and heard music again!
Great lighting, great shrines, interesting music, two stages set up so one band or group of musicians could be setting up while someone else was playing ~ smart!
But no beer...
Checked out the shrines first.
The insurance agent in me had a bit of concern with the number of burning candles...
Lots of tents, paper flowers, paper decorations, people.
This would never fly in the US...
There was a huge shrine behind the stage with giant skulls, flowers, candles and skeletons.
Still no beer.
So, Jim who hadn't had a beer in a few days really wanted one.
Hey there's an Oxxo (Mexican version of a 7-11) a few blocks away.
Let's go buy a beer!
So we walked to Oxxo and ended up with wine coolers.
Even Jim.
Go figure.
And since we are buying one, we may as well get two each, so we don't have to walk back to Oxxo a second time.
More wine coolers.
Mine was Boone's.
Yes, Boone's Farm.
Then we sat on a wall and drank them.
We felt 17.
If you are in your late 40's and want to feel young again, go buy some cheap wine, find a wall, sit and drink.
Then back to the festival to listen to more music.
Steve from "Etosha" (a boat in the marina) played the mandolin.
Then we saw these giant stilt-walking skeletons!
Some of the kids were dressed up.
Then back to The Malecon where a lot of people were dressed up!
And it's happening all over again tonight!
