The clatter of enthusiastic skeletons in Mexico City
In the Mexican capital, death is intellectualized in museums and galleries, it dresses up for a night gala in five stars hotels, and yet easily maintains it's provincial air in humble neighborhoods.
Because of the extension of the City, one must visit the Capital for at least two continuous years during the season of Day of the Dead, to have a more profound vision of the changes that take place in it's inhabitants when they start preparing to celebrate this tradition, so closely tied to the soul of Mexicans.
To be born and to die is one of the dualities faced by human beings and everything that exists. This duality is the key to the Mexican idiosyncrasy, manifested in the pre-Cortez epoch and routed among the centuries in a mix of pre-Hispanic and religious beliefs, of humor and mysticism, of sadness and joy.
Like the small towns of the provinces, the majority of the residents in Mexico City prepare with anticipation to celebrate with dignity the return of the souls of the dead.In the Capital the offerings are placed in museums and galleries entrusting the work to artists that interpret different subjects or motives, in creating truly artistic designs to later expose them to an array of aromas and colors in which the flower of the season – the cempasuchitl – is the prevailing one.
It is difficult to calculate the amount of craftsmanship that is sold at different prices in Mexico City; this shows that the industry that generates the Day of the Dead is one of the most important affecting the year’s economy of the city, and at the same time demonstrates that this tradition is more alive than ever.
In what corresponds to the festive activity, besides eating the chocolate and sugar skeletons with one's name on it, children, even adults buy toys with images of an enthusiastic skeleton made of paper mache, and jointed skeletons which dance when you pull on a string. Very few stay away from the funeral procession consisting of paper dolls with heads made of garbanzo, which move by the means of a thread, making the head come out of the coffin. The craftsman takes advantage of the opportunity to write special messages on the coffin.
Names of the members of the Linares family represent with their work what the Day of the Dead is in Mexico. The paper mache skeletons which they exhibit annually are a tradition already established in October and November of each year.
From the bilingual book “Through the Eyes of the Soul Day of the Dead In Mexico - Mexico City, Mixquic and Morelos”. For information of books about this tradition, written by Mary J. Andrade, visit www.dayofthedead.com
Hi Karin:
Here is some information about the “calaveras:”
The cult of the “skull” is almost universal; many cities around the world have preserved it due to the belief that in it the powers of the deceased can be found. In pre-Hispanic Mexico rituals were dedicated to them.
The calaveras are equally alive through the celebration of the Day of the Dead. These verses poke fun, in the form of an epitaph, at the defects of people who are presented as dead. This tradition that originated in colonial times has ties to certain religious expressions of the High European Middle Ages and the indigenous pre-colonial beliefs that reflect death as an inseparable companion.
One of the best known calaveras, is the one dedicated to an ex-dictator of Mexico, General Porfirio Diaz:
“The English man is a skeleton
so is the Italian
and Maximilian;
the Roman Pontiff,
all cardinals
kings, dukes and councilmen
and the Head of State
in the grave are all the same:
only a pile of skeletons.
I'm looking for info. about one custom that involves writing prankish poems about friends (alive) which a friend from Mexico City told me about.
The day of the dead in America is a good event to have Americans understand the Mexican culture. I have actually been to a day of the dead celebration in San Diego, California. There was a lot of Americans there and I believe it is a good thing to have Americans learn about the Mexican culture and rituals and traditions it has. I really enjoy learning about the Latino culture because it is an exiting, lively culture, and it has a lot of fiestas which I like. The day of the Dead is a celebration which i believe shows how respectful they are to their dead people, unlike us in the US the Mexicans still love to talk about their dead love ones, which I really respect. Adios
Two thumbs up! :)
I invite our readers who know about tours for Day of the Dead to Mexico City to submit the information to this blog.
Invito a nuestros lectores que sepan sobre viajes organizados hacia la Ciudad de México, durante Días de los Muertos, que compartan esa información con nuestros visitantes.
Need recommended local tour in Mexico City for Day of the Dead.
OK for other to email Jacpace@earthlink.net THANKS.
Muy bonito! Buen trabajo.