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DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN RITUAL. BREAD OF THE DEAD, CATRINA SKELETON.

Posted by La Carmina on December 17, 2011


DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

They call her La Catrina, or the elegant skull. She’s all bones, usually clad in a long robe and carrying a scythe. And this is her holiday: Day of the Dead.

On November 1st and 2nd, Mexicans honor those who have passed. But it’s not a gloomy holiday – quite the opposite. Day of the Dead is a vibrant celebration that shouts yes — the dead can dance.

DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

I had the pleasure of celebrating Dia de Los Muertos this year… in the historic district of Mazatlan, Mexico!

Horse cigar ring: gifted from Erica Anenberg
Dress: gifted from Sourpuss Clothing

DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

The ritual traces back to the Aztecs, who worshipped a god named ‘The Lady of the Dead’. In modern times, this ghoulish goddess is known as Catrina… And her image haunts every corner of Mazatlan.

DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

Night falls, and the darkest celebrations begin. Family members visit graveyards, sometimes camping out all night. They pray and share their favorite memories of the deceased.

DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

But I’m in the mood to dance. So I’m joining the Day of the Dead parade.

DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

Locals gather in Old Mazatlan for the annual procession. They’re put on elegant costumes and painted their faces like skulls. With folk music and firecrackers, the dead have come back to life.

DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

Lively, and slightly scary. (With my talented filmmaker, Melissa.)

DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

I saw many colorful altars to remember the dead. They’re decorated with real or paper marigolds, photos, favorite meals and objects. And, of course, sugar skulls – which have the name of the dead written on the forehead.

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There’s even a special food for the occasion: Bread of the Dead! Sold in Panama Bakery, It’s airy and sweet, and has a cross-bone on top. Don’t worry – it’s safe for the living to eat.

pulmonias, mexico open air taxis, mexican taxi, DAY OF THE DEAD PARADE, Día de Muertos, ART & MAKEUP: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN CELEBRATION. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, calaveras, La Calavera de la Catrina, pan de muertos, skull crossbones decorated bread, day of the dead skull makeup, skeleton woman art statues

When the party was over, I hopped into one of these pulmonias (open air taxis unique to Mazatlan). Time to crawl into my coffin!

Are you familiar with Day of the Dead? What did you think of the celebrations and visuals in this post? If you have questions, I invite you to leave a comment here or on my Facebook; I’ll be sure to reply.

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Filed Under Fashion, Mexico + Central America, Nightcrawling
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MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS.

Posted by La Carmina on December 2, 2011


calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Every sunny destination has a dark side. Case in point: I was in Mazatlan, Mexico for Day of the Dead.

The press trip included an Art Walk in the Historic District. Oh, the spooky art I encountered!

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My favorite local gallery was Nidart, known for handmade leather masks. The curving forms and facial expressions are one-of-a-kind.

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Secret garden in the back, framed by animal and devil masks.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

What a treat to see the artisans at work. One of the journalists bought this Pirate, for only US $90.

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Sunglasses: gifted from Erica Anenberg
Sundress: gifted from Sourpuss Clothing (note the skull and crossbones print! I also wore it in Venice, Italy)
Big sunhat: from a Hong Kong street stall

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

I pressed magenta glitter on top of my lipstick, for a candy-sparkle shimmer. I extended my liquid eyeliner outward, so that it peeks through the hole in the sunglasses.

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Death is everywhere… in local galleries, on the wall of Angela Peralta theater. And she’s never looked better.

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Despite the dark themes, the art feels uplifting. The colors and active poses reflect the Mexican folk view that life and death are balancing forces.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

This idea’s expressed in the Catrionas, or elegant skeleton ladies. You’ll see more in my travel videos and Dia de los Muertos coverage, coming soon.

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At the end of the art tour, we took a much-needed stop for handmade sorbet. Guava and tangerine. Yum.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Have you ever been to Mexico? Do you collect art, or memorabilia of any kind? If so, what?

PS: I’m glad you enjoyed my holiday gift guide. Can you guess what my fat cat’s getting for Christmas? Maybe another cat stroller if he’s nice, or a crib if he’s naughty…

Song of the Day: Morbid Fancy – The Incident

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Filed Under Art + Design, Fashion, Mexico + Central America
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