Dia de Los Muertos 2011 » MSLRAdmin

Definitions

MSLRAdmin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:07:45 +0000

Angelitos – souls of the children who have died, literally “little angels.
Atole – an ancient drink made from corn meal and water flavored with various fruits
Calavera – a skull tat symbolizes death and a slang term for daredevil. Also songs and poems that are satirical in nature.
Mascara or Careta – a face mask
Cempasúchitl – a yellow marigold, the symbol of death
Mole – a sauce made from ingredients including chilis, sesame seeds, herbs, spices, chocolate and fruit

Ofrenda – an offering refers to the goods set out on the altars.
Copal (incense) – represents the soul (smoke) leaving the material body. Some believe copal mixed with the smell of cempasúchitl bears a resemblance to the smell of bones and death.
Pan de Muerto – bread of the dead … with a hidden figurine in the center of the bread.

What is the difference between Halloween and Day of the Dead?
Halloween is based on a medieval European concept of death and is populated by demons, witches, and other images of terror – all of them negative. Día de los Muertos is distinctly different. It is a custom that demonstrates a strong sense of love and respect for one’s ancestors. It celebrates the continuance of life — family, relationships and community solidarity, and even finds humor after death – all positive concepts.

Today

MSLRAdmin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:06:00 +0000

Many immigrants, especially the Oaxacan community, have brought these traditions with them. They are now sharing them with everyone by participating in Día de los Muertos Festivals in the U.S. Non-Mexicans are learning that Día de los Muertos is a celebration of life and death that speaks to everyone who has lost somebody. Some people attend because either they are curious, or they want to just have a good time. Perhaps they want to continue this wonderful tradition. Whatever the reason, it’s wonderful to see so many different types of people gathered in one place to celebrate life and death. In la fiesta of Día de los Muertos, time no longer bars one spirit from another by reason of death.

Tradition

MSLRAdmin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:03:24 +0000

The Mexican Day of the Dead – Día de los Muertos — is a festive and celebrative time. It is a holiday with a complex history and fusion of old traditions. This view of death started with Mesoamerican cultures such as the Olmecs more than 3,000 years ago. Mesoamericans believed that during this time of the year, the boundaries that separate the living and the dead weaken and that the deceased could visit the living. Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life, as a blend together cycle. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. The holiday is traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Because it is a holiday with a complex history, its observance varies from region to region and also by degree of urbanization. In the small towns of Mexico a candlelight procession to the cemetery is held by most of the families on the eve of the celebration. At the gravesites family members spruce up the gravesite, decorate it with flowers and enjoy a meal. Offerings are brought to the graves and include the favorite foods, beverages, toys, and personal belongings of the departed so that they might enjoy them again. Family members spend the night at the cemetery and share the memory of their loved ones by telling stories about them. The celebration is not a mournful one, but rather a time to share with family and friends and to visit with the souls of the departed. The warm communal environment, the colorful setting, and the abundance of food, drink and the presence of friends and family members has pleasant overtones for most observers. This festive interaction between the living and the dead is a way of celebrating that life was and still is shared with the departed and is also recognition of the cycle of life and death. This cycle is the cycle of all forms of existence.

Altras

MSLRAdmin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:31:18 +0000

The altar, full of “ofrendas”, is the focal point to observing the Día de los Muertos. In Mexico it is build at home and/or at the grave side. Entire families construct altars as an annual commitment. The altar consists of four levels and four sides, representing the four stages of life, the four points of the earth, the four seasons, and the four cardinal points upon which the pyramids were built. Based upon this concept of four points and elements, the following items are used: four of the main principal seeds used by the Mexicas which were tomatillo (green tomato), cacao, chile, and corn. Also are used the symbols of the four elements of life which are water (water), fire (candles), earth (seeds), and wind (flags, flutes and conch shells). The four stages of life and of the elements are also represented through corn: fresh corn, cooked corn, dry corn, and liquid corn as in the traditional atole. Corn is used for the ofrendas because it has been the main staple food in Mesoamerica for thousands of years: tortillas, tamales, pozole, atole, totopos, and esquites among many others.

TRADITIONAL ALTAR OFFERINGS:
Tamales * Mole * Chile * Bread of the Dead * Sugar Bananas * Altar Arch * Personal Mementos Atole * Oranges * Toys – Gifts * Corn Flowers Glass of water – a must! * Baby’s breath * Milk Cempasuchitl (marigolds) * Beans * Clay censer Apples & nuts * Calaveras (skeletons) * Cocoa * Sugar skulls Chicken in Mole * Photos of the deceased * Candles * Toy coffins * Papel picado (cut paper skeletons) * Salt

What is the difference between Halloween and Day of the Dead?

MSLRAdmin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:57:52 +0000

Halloween is based on a medieval European concept of death and is populated by demons, witches, and other images of terror – all of them negative. Día de los Muertos is distinctly different. It is a custom that demonstrates a strong sense of love and respect for one’s ancestors. It celebrates the continuance of life – family, relationships and community solidarity, and even finds humor after death – all positive concepts.

2010 Event a Success!

MSLRAdmin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:53:10 +0000

Dia de los Muertos at Mission San Luis Rey has once again concluded a fantastic community event. By 2pm the event planners estimated attendance at approximately 15,000 guests. The entertainment was wonderful and all the participants who put together the ofrendas had quite the audience. This year MANY more attendees dressed the part in their wonderful traditional Day of the Dead costumes and makeup. Children came dressed for their practice run for trick or treating that evening. The mini ofrendas were works of art. Thank you Casa Artelexia and Coast Highway Traders for donating the prizes. We had a wonderful greeting by Mayor Jim Wood and the Consul General of San Diego who urged the community to understand the tradition and continue to pass the custom to the next generations.

Great Festival 2009!

MSLRAdmin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:45:21 +0000

CLICK on photos to see the detail.

Mini Ofrendas

Sponsored by XEWT TV 12 (made by the kids with their families.)

Main Ofrendas (altars) & Classic Car Ofrendas

Entertainment

Dia de los Muertos stays in Oceanside California

MSLRAdmin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:14:54 +0000

Artist at Work

Dia de los Muertos, the popular street festival usually staged in Downtown Oceanside and bringing in crowds of 65,000+, has found itself a new home at Mission San Luis Rey. The 9th Annual Dia De Los Muertos will take place Sunday, November 1st, 2009, 10am – 4pm. MainStreet Oceanside, the downtown business support group that previously produced the event, is providing assistance to the Mission to bring the event to Mission grounds. Many of the traditions of the festival will continue including; the altars (ofrendas) celebrating lives of departed loved ones, the chalk cemetery and the educational component provided by Professor Carlos von Son of Palomar College. In addition, long time supporters such as the Oaxacan community leaders and Mellano & Company have again decided to participate. Mellano & Company generously agreed to continue providing the tens of thousands of marigolds used for the altars and to decorate the event venue. The Mission has also promised to provide festival attendees with great music, an international food court and a bazaar featuring goods from around the world. Rick Wright, Interim Executive Director for MainStreet Oceanside said, “We are excited to be working with the Mission staff to preserve this incredible event for the community. Budget cutbacks prevented us from staging Dia de los Muertos this year so we are thrilled that another group has come forward to continue the tradition. Over the past eight years, we have assembled an incredible team to produce this event and I’m pleased that most of the team will stay intact as the Mission assumes the lead role in producing Dia de los Muertos.” “Mission San Luis Rey is excited to continue their community partnership by accepting this role. One of our goals is to bring the community together and the Dia de los Muertos celebration is one of unity and cultural importance. Since the Mission welcomes people of all faiths, this festival is a good fit. We look forward to working closely with MainStreet Oceanside to create a successful event,” said Friar James Lockman, ofm, Executive Director of Mission San Luis Rey. Because of the cost associated with the event, Mission San Luis Rey is looking for the corporate community to also step forward to continue this valuable and highly visible tradition by assisting with sponsorships and donations. For information regarding sponsorship, please contact the Mission c/o Marie Daniels of CAELUM Communication & Marketing, email or 858.736.9140. For general information about the event, please contact Mission San Luis Rey at 760.757.3651. To learn more about Mission San Luis Rey, visit our website.