Xoxocotlan is near Oaxaca city
and therefore host lots of
tourists during the festival.  
It is best to cab or bus there or
go with a tour group.

Cabs are plentiful and can be
found at Xoxocotlan's main
square or Zocalo
Even with the crowds,
Xoxocotlan's October 31
nighttime vigil in the Old
Cemetery  is a candle-lit
spectacle not to be missed.
Day Of The Dead, Old Cemetery, Xoxocotlan,  
Oaxaca, Mexico, Flowers and Candles
Tons of flowers decorate the graveyards when the people of
Xoxocotlan in Oaxaca hold a cemetery vigil by candlelight at the old
Cemetery and its decorated tombs.
Marigold flowers  and candles turn the cemetery into an enchanting
place to be during the last evening of October.
Xoxocotlan's decorating of altars holds to the traditional use of
marigolds, candles, and copal incense to entice the spirits to come to
the graves.
Xoxocotlan's  Day of the Dead
the Old cemetery  Cementario Viejo

Although the Day Of The Dead ceremony is steeped in ritual and history, not all
villages celebrate the  festival on the same day.  Xoxocotlan starts its celebration
on the last night of October.  The cleaning of the tombs starts in the afternoon and
continues until dusk.  Then the families light the candles and  take their place by
the grave for the night vigil of waiting for the spirits.

I f you visit the valley of Oaxaca during this end of October festival called the Day of
the Dead, be sure to visit Xoxocotlan's  (Old cemetery) Cementario Viejo where
you will see tons of  marigold flowers, the brilliant red cockscomb, and thousands
of candles decorating the  tombs.
Sand painting is popular in Xoxocotlan so you are apt to see a demonstration of
that method of decorating the tomb and you will see examples of sand paintings at
Xoxocotlan's New Cemetery.
In this three-day annual festival of honoring the spirits at graveside, flowers play an important part.  In the
village of Xoxocotlan, near Oaxaca city, most of the decorations in the Old cemetery are of the traditional
kind found in most  Day of the Dead festivals, Marigolds, candles, and copal incense.
The families build
altars with offerings for
the spirit.
Some say a photo or
painting of the
departed must be on
the altar or the wrong
spirit could be attracted
to the offerings. You
therefore  will often see
a photo of the
deceased relative at
the home altar.
Oaxaca Hotels      
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, Cementario Nuevo. By nine in the evening of October 31 the cemetery is lit with candles.
October 31, the village of Atzompa holds a later cemetery vigil starting around 11 pm.

Day of the Dead November 1,
Oaxaca City Cemetery, Panteon General on the east side of the city
Tlaixtac de Cabrera, six miles south east of Oaxaca City

San Felipe del Agua, north of Oaxaca City November 2,
Village of San Antonino Castillo Velasco  A flower growing village that celebrates a week after the
others
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Day Of The Dead in the Old Cemetery at
Xoxocotlan, Oaxaca, Mexico is
celebrated on October 31 the night of
Day Of The Dead, Old
Cemetery, Xoxocotlon, Oaxaca
on the 31 of October
The Day Of The Dead in the Old Cemetery of
Xoxocotlan in Oaxaca will immerse the visitor in
flowers and candlelight.  The Day of the Dead in the
Old cemetery of Xoxocotlan is celebrated the night of
October 31

See cemetery schedules below for suggested times