Nov 20, 2010: Dia de Los Muertos

Dia de Los Muertos, day of the dead, is an important holiday in Mexico. It's also a holiday in the American southwest, for obvious reasons.
At Hollywood Forever Cemetery, in Los Angeles, they just held their 11th annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration.

People hang out among the graves in everything from face paint to elaborate costumes, vying for prizes.



And a lot of people come to art show, parades/processions, food court, children's art center, and several performance venues...
continuous entertainment stages that run from early afternoon until midnight.



No word if the dead people enjoy being "honored".

pictures

Cemetery home page Warning, self starting music.

I like any holiday that celebrates death. It's so human.

nicely put Bri.

I'd like to big up the Cellar for making me aware of this tradition.
Our music teacher came into the staffroom the other week and said she'd mentioned the Mexican Day of the Dead (as part of a Remembrance Sunday discussion with the 10-11 year olds) but she couldn't remember what it was called. "Dia de la Muerto!" I proudly replied. Okay I got it a bit wrong, but I was pleased to show my knowledge.

People of our age mostly learned German and French in school. My neice is now learning Spanish (although she refuses to speak it abroad, being 16 and embarrassed by everything)

At our school you got to choose between Spanish and German. I chose German, so now I can't help the kids with their homework.

I agree with Bri. I really hate the way some people treat the word "dead" like it's an F bomb.

My stepdaughter was vehemently against taking Spanish, because she has had several Hispanic bullies and is prejudiced. Since grades are already an issue without defiance being thrown into the mix, we happily encouraged her to choose French instead.