Saturday, November 10, 2012

Dia de los Muertos









Ah, New Mexico . . .  another week, another festival!

Last weekend, it was Dia de los Muertos y Marigolds in Albuquerque's South Valley neighborhood.   A Mexican holiday that originated hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of years ago, it is traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2.  But in Albuquerque, for convenience, it is celebrated on an adjacent weekend with a parade and gathering at a neighborhood community center, and it’s bigger than Halloween.

Virtually everyone has their face painted to resemble a calavera (skull), and many are elaborate and beautiful, accented with traditional orange Mexican marigolds:




























Costumes are also in order . . .

 






and there’s more than a smattering of Goth in the crowd.












 





Thousands line the mile-long parade route . . .










The parade lasts for about an hour, and consists of marchers and floats of every description.  There are political statements . . .




Social issues . . .




Remembering dead writers . . .




And dead pets . . .



Antique cars (yikes, some of these are younger than I am!) . . .




And low riders . . .



Radio station vans . . .




Motorcycles . . .




And more . . .





The parade ends at the neighborhood community center, where everyone gathers for food, music, and a traditional blessing . . .

















For larger versions of these images, and more, you can visit my photography website, Todos Juntos Photography, by clicking here.