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.