Ofrendas

Today is the first of the two part Day of the Dead celebration. After recovering from our Feliz Halloween, Laurel, Bryce and I went into town in the early afternoon. Sue was still quite ill with her stomach virus, and was in no shape to join us.

On our way into town, we often walk past Antonio's house. As we walked past it today, Antonio opened his door and invited us inside. We got to check out his ofrenda - the alter he build for loved ones who had died. It was well organized, with his mother and father on top, siblings underneath, then cousins and other less-related people below. He had maybe 60 sugar skulls in all, all with different names printed on them. Some children's toys were on the bottom part, for kids that had died. Various offerings and candles were scattered about. For his father, they make a pollo mole (chicken with mole sauce) dish every year and place it on the altar. It was very gracious of Antonio to share his ofrenda with us.

We also got to tour his house, which has been in the family for 180 years. It was in four parts - a casita which he just sold, the lower level for himself, and two upper levels, one for each of his boys. His two new born grand-kids were in the house as well.

Next, we went to the Jardin, and there were some very large ofrendas, as well as some really cool mosaics made from beans, rice, oatmeal, flowers, and other natural things.


Cool mosaic


Another cool mosaic


Big Ofrenda

After checking out the Jardin scene, the kids played in Parque Juarez for a while, then we got dinner and returned to the Jardin at 7:30 or so. There was a scheduled parade of catrinas - people dressed like royal skeletons. A stage was set up, and one of the local theater groups did a skit/play of catrinas. Then, various catrina people were milling around the Jardin. We had read that they would have toys and candy for all the kids (which Bryce was very excited about) and then a parade. I'm not sure if the parade ever materialized, as Laurel bonked around 8:30, and Bryce just got 4 pieces of candy, despite going up to every skeleton-person he could find holding his bag open. A few other Mexican kids had the same idea, and I doubt they were any more successful.

In spite of not having our expectations met, it was still a fun day. I think Laurel and Bryce now have a better appreciation of life and death (as do I), which hopefully will guide them positively for the rest of their lives.