Tag Archives: Mexican Culture

Day of the Dead – 2018

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Skulls and skeletons are significant symbols of both the dead and the living. Underneath we are all skeletons.

Heather and I ventured to Living Arts of Tulsa Friday evening for their Day of the Dead event.

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National Geographic has some information  on the Day of the Dead. First off it is not a Mexican version of Halloween. 

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I loved this Star Trek themed Day of the Dead mural.

They claim that it originated thousands of years ago when the Aztecs and other ancient cultures. They believed that death was on the same continuum as life and that their ancestors should be honored.  

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This mural is for those of us who love our pets. They just do not live very long. 

Over time the ancient traditions merged with Christian beliefs and now the Day of the Dead occurs November 1 and 2, All Souls Day and All Saints Day. 

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A big part of the Day are the ofrenda’s or altars to the dead that can be installed in homes or graveyards. 

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They are meant to honor the dead and make them part of the holiday. Photos and other rembrances are displayed and favorite food and drink is offered. 

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The Ofrendas at Living Arts are for real. They are built by people for their loved ones. 

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They are really powerful and they speak to me of the power of family, love, tradition, remembrance and mourning. 

I am linking with  Our World Tuesday

Dia De Muertes (Day of the Dead) at Tulsa’s Living Arts

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November 1st I got a kitchen pass from Heather and headed out to Living Arts in the Brady District to check out their Day of the Dead celebration. I first went two years ago and I thought it was wonderful.  Dia De Muertos (Dia De Los Muertos is a back translation from English I read) is a day where people in Mexico honor and remember their relatives and close friends who have died.

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Often the dead are remembered via Ofrendas (Offerings) which are altars built to honor the dead person. It may have photographs of the deceased or possessions and often contain favorite foods or beverages and if it is a child, a toy. Living Arts in their “Altared Spaces” Exhbit displayed Ofrendas made by people for their loved ones. In fact they solicit the public to put up Ofrendas.

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Some were for people who had a long life and many children and grand children.

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And others were for people who passed away way too young.

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They were all works of art.

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The Ofrenda above is for those people who died while trying to cross the border.

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I love the concept of honoring lost ones with an Ofrenda.

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Living Arts also had murals painted just for the event. I love them for their humorous macabre riff.

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Dancing skeletons

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Here is one in honor of dogs. Our dogs just don’t live long enough if you ask me.

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The murals are beautiful. Even the ones with gas meters in front of them.

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There was dance also. Ballet Folklorico Sol Azteca of Tulsa put on a great performance of folk dances.

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The costumes were colorful

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And the dancers were lively

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It was beautiful and I had a front row seat for some reason.

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And there was all sorts of other things going on. Food vendors, crafts, other performers. You can bet that I’ll be back next year!