**** DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IN MIXQUIC - Day of the Dead in Mixquic ****
San Andres de Mixquic was founded in 1200 on an Island in the (then) lake of Xochomilco near Mexico City. Here I experienced my first “Dia de los Muertos” in 1973. Mixquic with its Convents, Chapels and Churches dating back to 1600 is also famous for its "Dia de los Muertos" celebrations still being observed in old traditional ways. On such a day on Nov 2 in 1973, my children, husband and I followed local families carrying tall candles, food and large bundles of the bright Tzempaxuchitl flower (Marigold) in silence to the “Campo Santo” to celebrate and pray for the souls of their deceased family members. Arriving at the cemetery we found ourselves quite impressed with a large mound of earth piled alongside the Chapel. Realizing that we were looking at human sculls, arm- and leg bones among the soil we asked some natives which, like us, seemed to be looking at this pile with a lot of interest. Only after we learned that part of the November traditions here is to dig up old and unpaid-for graves, did it cross our mind that these natives may have been looking for a piece of a deceased loved one. This impressive experience has been the inspiration for my painting “Dia de los Muertos en Mixquic”
****** Story and detail of painting by Ute Hagen, Mexico, October 2006 ******
PS: Recent info found on the sculls of Mixquic:
"En el patio interno de la iglesia de Mixquic la gente del pueblo coloca huesos humanos no identidicados que han sido encontrados durante excavaciones" - "In the internal patio of the Church of Mixquic town-people place human bones found during excavations that have not been identified"
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***** EL ALTAR DE MUERTOS - THE "DAY OF THE DEAD" ALTAR *****
One of the most beautiful traditions of Mexico is “el altar de muertos”, the altar for the dead. As the legend in Mexico goes, on All Saints and All Souls Day, November 1 and 2, the souls of the deceased have obtained permission to visit with their families. “Pues el difunto podria volver ese día a la casa y hay que atenderlo bien", (“you see, the deceased might just come home that day so one has to look after them well”). Wanting these visiting souls to stay a while and not go off sampling the offerings on our neighbor’s altar we need to welcome them and make them most comfortable at an altar filled with their favorite things. Such an altar becomes an icon of love, a work of art and to create it lets gather a few things and use our imagination too.
A traditional Mexican altar for the dead is preferably installed in the main room of the house, on top of a table and consists of three levels. The highest level representing heaven, here you place an image of a Santo, la Virgen, a cross, or Jesus. On the middle level you place a photo, or multiple photos of the person you are dedicating the altar to, and on the lowest level, representing earth, you place all your offerings. Keep in mind each object will have to have a special significance. Traditional offerings dating back to the Aztecs include:
• Flowers of Tzempaxuchitl (the bright orange Marigold flowers)
• Calaveritas de azucar (sugar sculls that can be personalized)
• Pan de muerto (the traditional ‘day of the dead’ bread)
• Copal and incienso (pieces of copal and incense with a mystic scent)
• Velas (candles)
To these items you can add any objects the person has loved in her/his lifetime:
Special cooked foods, fruit of the season, chiles and tamales, salt, a glass of water to drink, cigarettes, a bottle of wine or liquor the person used to favor, a book, etc.
And don’t forget placing some of the whimsical decorative pieces of Mexican Arte Folklorico: a Catrina figure, a papier-mâché skeleton, toys made of wood and purple, orange or hot-pink papel picado (colorful cut-out Chinese paper). For an authentic atmosphere use plates and cups made of barro (clay) and maybe place a petate (woven reed mat) sprinkled with petals of Marigold in front of the altar. Chairs for the deceased are a welcoming gesture too.
Then on the night of Nov 2 light the candles, burn the incense and be still. Enjoy the visit with your ancestors - feel the breeze - listen for the chatter of their teeth - propose a toast and celebrate the memory of their life. Don’t be disappointed if your food offerings look untouched, surely their essence has been absorbed.
***** Story and detail of painting by Ute Hagen, Mexico, October 2006 *****
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