The Day of the Dead

May 21, 2012

On Monday, we went to our newly assigned class.  It is a room of 36 third graders.  It is a small room with 40 desks.  A ball was flying, paper wads flew, students got up at will, many students did not face instruction much less pay attention to instruction.  There was no order.  I am writing this on Wednesday the 23rd.  Stay tuned for our amazing success story (so far)  in the classroom.

Our afternoon/evening activity was to learn about Dia del Mortes or Day of the Dead, November 2nd. On Day of the Dead they build alters - there is an example alter below - look sideways.  Day of the Dead is actually a celebration of life. 

The alter includes a picture of the person being remembered.  They also have offerings that must include 4 elements - water, fire, wind, and earth.  There are always marigolds.  They used to make a trail of flower petals from the grave of the person to the alter so the soul could find it.  The alter below is for a child.  Notice it includes the childs favorite things - musical instruments hanging from the ceiling.

The bread in the picture was made for day of the dead.  It was the original way they made it.  It doesn't look like this anymore.

The people here laugh about death and write poems about it.  The poems are also called skeletons.  Keep that in mind when you read the translated poem below:

The skeletons died

It's not difficult to understand

They died of sadness

Because no one wanted to read them.

Here is another picture related to Day of the Dead shown to us by our guest teacher.

On Friday night we are going to see a comedy.  Our teacher that taught us about Mexican celebrations/traditions is the second person on the left in the picture below.  She is also starring in the comedy show we will see on Friday night.  We are standing in the theatre.

She took us to see an artist.  His story/gallery is in downtown Queretaro.  His artistic inspiration is death and dying.  He has researched 100 ways Mexico refers to death.  This is a poster of his findings.

A close up of one of the posters.

This store was so much fun to shop in.  I didn't think I would buy Ryan and Ras souvenirs but this store was way too cool!!! 

The artist himself is holding this creature in front of my friend Catharina. 

Here we are with the artist.  I don't have his name with me.  I thought of Chris and Gretchen while there :) 

This city is so amazing.  So much history.  More churches that I have ever seen in my life.  And amazing people like this artist.  I have no idea why more people don't travel here.  Best unknown travel destination EVER!  I'm letting the secret out :D