Dia De Los Muertos - Day of the Dead Festivities

This celebration is a longstanding tradition, along with festivities, to honor the dead. It is typically held on Nov. 1, Día de Los Niños (All Saint's Day)), and Nov. 2, Día de Los Muertos (All Soul's Day). This is generally a Spanish, Aztec, Mexican celebration, although anyone can participate, or witness the celebration. If you are new to this festivity, it might remind you of a cross between Mardi Gras and Halloween, with bright colors, costumes, and intricate masks.

During the time of the Aztecs, a month-long, summer celebration was overseen by the Goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. After the Aztecs were conquered by Spain, and Catholicism became the dominant religion, the customs became intertwined with the Christian commemoration of All Saints' Day on Nov. 1.

During the celebration, the dead are not feared, as on Halloween, but instead are honored and celebrated. Ornate altars are made to welcome home the spirits of the dead. Ofrendas (offerings) are made, and gravesites are elaborately decorated. Typical ofrendas include:

Ø a wash bowl or basin, razors, soap and other items the traveling spirit can use to clean-up after the journey,
Ø pictures and personal items of the deceased,
Ø items that the deceased may have enjoyed in life, i.e. cigarettes, tequila, etc.
Ø candles to light the way for the deceased,
Ø decorative items, such as papel picado, (tissue paper cut-outs), wreaths, crosses and flowers,
Ø dishes to help feed and nourish the traveling souls

Three specific places to partake in the celebration are:

La Zona Rosa on Nov. 2:
ME Television announces additions to " Rock n Roll Dia," a multi-media themed rock and roll event combining a traditional Dia de los Muertos celebration featuring the latest in Latin music, art and film. Proceeds raised at the event will benefit the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), Austin Latin Music Association (ALMA), and The Austin Public Library Foundation.
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival will present a program of Latin American short films, documentaries and vintage Mexican horror films throughout the evening. Now preparing for their 10th anniversary festival in April 2007, Cine Las Americas brings to Austin the best in new cinema by and about Latin American and Indigenous peoples. Films to be screened at Rock and Roll Dia include GRINGOTON, SAMUEL DE MANGO (by Austin filmmaker Everett R. Aponte) and HECHO A MANO (by local filmmaker Ryan Polomski).
For more information, visit www.cinelasamericas.org.

Plaza Saltillo on Oct. 28:
5:00 p.m. - Assemble at Plaza Saltillo
6:00 p.m. - Procession begins down up 6th Street to Congress
Location: Begins in East Austin at Plaza Saltillo and travels down West 6th St. to
Congress Avenue , ends at Mexic-Arte Museum

Procession & Celebration
Mexic-Arte Museum invites Central Texans and their Chihuahuas to march in Austin 's oldest Day of the Dead celebrations - The 23rd Annual Día de Los Muertos Celebration and Procession.

Celebration Details
The street cultural extravaganza will feature live music, ballet folklorico, Aztec dancers, strolling mariachis, a lively puppet show, traditional foods, children's activities, a performance bus and costume contests for guests and their dogs. The public will be invited to add marigolds to a "Wall of Remembrance" to be located in the Museum's Back Gallery.

Procession Details
People of all ages dressed in skeleton costumes, families, university groups, altars, noise makers, Mariachis, Aztec dancers, colorfully-decorated cars and lowriders will gather at Plaza Saltillo and assemble a joyous and colorful procession. A group of Chihuahua dogs will again lead the parade as a symbolic reference to the ancient Aztec belief in which a sacred dog lead the departed spirit to the next world. Participation in the procession is absolutely free and open to the entire community! ANGEL, DEVIL AND SKELETON COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED. CHIHUAHUAS WILL BE THE ONLY BREED ALLOWED IN THE PARADE. The procession will feature traditional large-scale works by Mexican Folk Art Maestro Davíd Linares.
For more information, visit: http://www.mexic-artemuseum.org/

La Zona Rosa, Nov. 2
Latinas Unidas Por el Arte (LUPE Arte) will perform comedic skits dressed as traditional Calveras. LUPE Arte is dedicated to preserving and supporting the arts in the Latin American community. LUPE Arte is well known for its multifaceted culturally relevant artwork in Austin and for sponsoring individual artists and projects such as ALTA, (Austin Latino Theater Alliance) in their production of the annual play "La Pastorela".

For more information, visit www.lupearte.com or www.lapastorela.com

If anyone would like recipes for traditional dishes for Dia de los Muertos, such as Mole Posole, Pan de Muertos or Calveras (sugar skulls), please drop me an email and I will send to you.