entre Halloween y Muertos

Perhaps I'm biased because October is my birthday month, but Halloween holds a special magic for me.  Although I'm delighted by the prospect of celebrating Día de los Muertos, I felt the urge to infuse some of my American customs into the weekend celebrations.  Here is the result of hours of giggling, drawing and carving with my niece and nephew.

The following are pictures of a grade school's Halloween festival.  Each class did a little dance (one was to a Spanish version of "Monster Mash") and recited a poem or scary story. 


a most adorable vampire and behind him, one of his wives



no one laughed at this joker

 The Day of the Dead is often difficult to explain, especially since each region within México celebrates or observes it in a different way.  However, it is important to note that it is primarily a sensory experience, for both the living and the dead.  The living must remind the visiting spirits of the world they left behind, a world full of material things.  The four elements (earth, wind, water, fire) are fundamental pieces of the puzzle, no offering is complete without them.

This is the school's collective ofrenda (offering).  In the foreground is a smaller version of the sun stone and in the back we see the altar.  The most splendorous part of any ofrenda is probably the food (as seen on the mat between altar and sun stone).  The dishes set out are those that the deceased most enjoyed in life.  Tequila and cigarettes are also often included =)  Water, the fountain of life, is placed in a glass for the thirsty spirits and fire, a spiritual purifier, is set out in the form of candles.



The bright color of the zempaxochitl flowers marks the path between this life and the next, making sure the deceased are not lost on their journey.  Incense is lit to mix with the smell of the flowers, creating a welcoming aroma for the visitors.  Papel picado is definitely my favorite element; the variety of colors and the texture of the paper represent the delights and fragility of life.




Pan de muerto is essential to any ofrenda.  It comes sugar-coated (above) or with sesame seeds.  Delicioso!!





young at heart

I stumbled upon Plaza del Danzón and was utterly enchanted by the sight of so many abuelos dancing their hearts away in the midday sun.  Danzón is something like mambo, except a little slower.  The dance itself is a two-step, with lots of half-turns.  So, let's get dressed to the nines, put on our dancing shoes and take a journey to the past...

He stuck a feather in his hat and called it Macaroni...

This man's hip action was very impressive...

...and if you want lessons, you can get them here, too!!

buena vista

Having been born and raised in the Midwest, cities most definitely do NOT equal mountainsides in my brain.  Then, after living in a decidedly non-flat region of Spain for two years, my love for cerros y montañas grew ten-fold.  Thus, I am always happy (and a tad surprised) to see the rugged terrain of México City.

calacas y más calacas ~ skeletons galore

Día de los Muertos is just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited!  Children are dressing up for their school festivals, families are making trips to cemeteries to pray for their dearly departed and household altars are being set up to welcome special visitors:  the spirits of the loved ones we've lost through the years. My parents never taught me to celebrate this particular holiday, but my fascination with the tradition has grown over time and now I'm ecstatic to participate in all the hooplah =)  Wanna know more?  ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_dead

Mi calaca favorita ~ My favorite skeleton

un domingo en el Zócalo



The Zócalo, Mexico City's main plaza, is without a doubt my favorite part of this city.  It is the best place for experiencing the sounds and smells of this great metropolis.  Every Sunday, there is food to be eaten, dancing to be seen and handcrafts to be browsed through. 

Largest cathedral in the Americas



International Book Fair was held from Oct 14-23rd in the Zócalo plaza



Los Alebrijes

In preparation for Día de los Muertos, there was a parade of papier-maché figurines held downtown.  These alebrijes are figments of children's fantasies but have become a typical memento of this celebration.  Here are some of my faves from among the 200+ representations...and for more info:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alebrije

Putting her best face forward.

Ride 'em, cowboy!!

No podía faltar la Friducha =)

en mi pueblo

Just another day's work:  cooking huge pots of yummyness outdoors.



Church where my parents spoke their marriage vows =)



oh, cielos!!

Views from my bedroom



pancita llena, corazón contento

Special food pic extravaganza!!

a sope (tortilla dough pancake with cheese and bean toppings) to the left, and chicken quesadilla to the right 

A big ol' pot of alambres: steak, bacon, onions, green peppers and jalapeños all cooked together and topped with oaxaca cheese.

My favorite Mexican breakfast food are molletes: fresh-baked bread filled with refried beans, a layer of cheese, chorizo and pico de gallo salsa

Tía Carmen's green enchiladas are the best.



Birthday cake!  Fruit-topped cheese cake, raspberry frosting and white chocolate wafers for a crust.