Day of the Dead  Sand Painting Oaxaca, Mexico,
Sand Painter Juan Cruz Pascual
Day of the Dead  Sand
Painting Oaxaca, Mexico
The Day of the Dead
Celebration in Oaxaca is a
three-day November holiday during
which families clean the graves and
prepare the tombs for the return of
the spirits.
During this time the traditional
flowers decorate the tombs and
home altars but in some villages the
popular decoration is the sand
painting.
Several styles of decoration mark the ceremony in Oaxaca, one is the tapete of
flowers, (to the left), a painting much like a rug done with flower buds, petals
and whole flowers. These will adorn the tomb or grave site.
The same style or similar could  be done with sand and colored powder
creating a sand painting.
Some sand paintings will be flat and called traditional. They will likely
incorporate Christian motifs, Others will be in a three dimensional bas relief
style.  The tendency now is to create larger and larger sand paintings of three
dimensions.
The sand paintings honor either a saint or an important historic figure. Some of
the recent versions have tried to make a political observation.
A  visit to the cemeteries near Oaxaca on the last night of October and the
first two nights of November can be a magical time. Thousands of candles
and marigold flowers decorate the tombs.  The smell of copal incense and
marigold petals, the sight of thousands of candles, and the lively music of a
brass band or the baleful moans of a religious dirge make the night unique.  
The build up to the event can be just as intriguing as the city prepares and turns
several pedestrian-only streets over to artists and students who create sand
painting with an historic or religious theme.     See village schedule below
While flowers still play the
most important part in the
ceremony and the markets
are heaped with marigold and
cockscomb, the flowers with
special meaning that the
families will use to decorate
their home altars and tombs,
the sand painting will be
popular in some villages as
the way to attract the spirits.
In the new cemetery of XoXo Cotlon, artist Juan Cruz Pascual
decorates  with a sand painting that includes Christian motifs
Juan Cruz Pascual in the new cemetery of XoXo,
just a mile or so from Oaxaca City, prepares his
Traditional sand painting at the grave of his father
while a diminutive audience looks on.
Juan's sand paintings have attracted followers who borrow his stencils and become students.
Future sand painters look on
Juan, a graphic artist working as an illustrator on archaeological projects, is fluent in English and recently
traveled to the US at the invitation of Texas A&M University to demonstrate the traditional sand painting.  
The stencils were passed to Juan from his uncle and remain in the family, He will make new ones as these
become no longer usable and he will pass the new ones along to his family.
Juan completes the sand painting with a border of flowers and candles. This painting depicts the Virgin
of Soledad, the Patron Saint of Oaxaca.
Sand painting has its risks. Shortly after Juan finished his painting a
nest of ants broke through
Juan's sand painting (left) is
traditional with a Christian
motif. Others will have a Native
American theme like this one
(right) inspired by the Mixtec
codex.

The new trend is to make large
sand paintings. This one done
at the new museum in
Oaxaca's former Government
Offices
Meanwhile each village in the surrounding mountains and valleys celebrates
at different times and with different intensity. Several use sand paintings or a
combination of sand and flower petals. The evenings are sure to be unique
whether the people decorate with flowers or sand as families come to the
graveyards and light thousands of candles as they sit by the tombs and wait
for the spirits to return.
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During the Day of the Dead,  Sand Painting is an important part of
the festival in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Sand Painter Juan Cruz Pascual
decorates his fathers grave in the new cemetery of Xoxocotlon with a
sand painting that includes Christian motifs

See the Oaxaca Day of the Dead cemetery schedule below for best times to visit
Day of the Dead  Sand Painting Oaxaca, Mexico, Sand Painter
Juan Cruz Pascual decorates the grave of his father.
Day of the Dead  Sand Painting
by artist  Juan Cruz Pascual
Day of the Dead  Sand Painting Oaxaca, Mexico, Sand Painter Juan Cruz Pascual decorates the grave of
his father.
Day of the Dead  Sand
Painting created by Oaxaca  
Sand Painter Juan Cruz
Pascual who decorates the
grave of his father.
In the new cemetery of Xoxocotlon, artist Juan Cruz Pascual decorates  with a sand painting that
includes Christian motifs
Day of the Dead Sand Painting in Oaxaca enters a new era as artists continually make larger sand
paintings, this one done at the museum in Oaxaca's former Government Offices
Oaxaca Day of the Dead Schedule of Cemetery Visits

October, 31
Xoxocotlan. This town a few miles southwest of Oaxaca City  has two Cemeteries, Cementario Viejo,
and the new cemetery, Cementario Nuevo.   Many visitors make this a crowded cemetery by 10:00 PM
The old cemetery is a magic place, however,  when it is lit by thousands of candles.

October 31, the village of Atzompa holds a later cemetery vigil starting around 11 pm. Music into the night
a less crowded event easily reached by taxi.

Day of the Dead November 1
Oaxaca City Cemetery, Panteon General on the east side of the city.  Offers displays and competition of
traditional altars  (ofrenda)  from many ethnic regions of Oaxaca.
Tlalixtac de Cabrera, six miles southeast of Oaxaca City.  A lively celebration with brass bands, strolling
guitar groups.

San Felipe del Agua, north of Oaxaca City, November 2, a family cemetery vigil easily reached by public
bus or taxi.  

Village of San Antonino Castillo Velasco  A flower growing village south of the city of Oaxaca that
celebrates a week after the others
Cemetery schedule, best times to visit Oaxaca area cemeteries