Day of the Dead Photos Oaxaca, Mexico
Day of the Dead Altar in Oaxaca
The Day of the Dead Festival is a three day November holiday when families prepare the tombs for the return
of the spirits. During this time flowers play an important role in decorating the tombs and home offerings.
Families leave offerings of food and drink for the spirits in the home and at the cemetery.
of the spirits. During this time flowers play an important role in decorating the tombs and home offerings.
Families leave offerings of food and drink for the spirits in the home and at the cemetery.
Cemetery Visits
A visit to the cemeteries near Oaxaca on the first two nights of November can be
a magical time because of the thousands of candles and the marigolds and
cockscomb flowers that decorate the tombs. Each village celebrates at different
times and with different intensity but the evenings are sure to be unique as
families come to the graveyards to sit by the tombs and wait for the spirits to
return.
Photos are allowed in the cemetery and most families are proud when you
admire their tomb decorations.
It is polite to ask permission to make a photograph and in most cases welcome.
a magical time because of the thousands of candles and the marigolds and
cockscomb flowers that decorate the tombs. Each village celebrates at different
times and with different intensity but the evenings are sure to be unique as
families come to the graveyards to sit by the tombs and wait for the spirits to
return.
Photos are allowed in the cemetery and most families are proud when you
admire their tomb decorations.
It is polite to ask permission to make a photograph and in most cases welcome.
Flowers and candles make the cemeteries mysterious places during the
November vigil for the spirits. Your visit is welcome, photos welcome, just ask.
On occasion someone will say no, just move on, there are hundreds of candle lit
tombs and grave lots.
By asking you have shown the same respect that you would like shown you in
your own cemetery visit at home
November vigil for the spirits. Your visit is welcome, photos welcome, just ask.
On occasion someone will say no, just move on, there are hundreds of candle lit
tombs and grave lots.
By asking you have shown the same respect that you would like shown you in
your own cemetery visit at home
In the family-oriented villages all members will spend the day decorating the tomb. At the plaza in the
village of XoXo a huge altar decorated with candles and flowers, fruit and candy was a community effort.
A visit to the cemetery in the late afternoon will produce photos of the preparations.
village of XoXo a huge altar decorated with candles and flowers, fruit and candy was a community effort.
A visit to the cemetery in the late afternoon will produce photos of the preparations.
In the cemetery of XoXo Cotlon, families
prepare the tombs by cleaning and decorating
them with candles and flowers. They sit by the
tombs in a night vigil of waiting for the spirits
of loved ones to return
prepare the tombs by cleaning and decorating
them with candles and flowers. They sit by the
tombs in a night vigil of waiting for the spirits
of loved ones to return
In the town of Tlalixtac south east of Oaxaca City the families sit by the decorated tombs while brass
bands move through the cemetery
bands move through the cemetery
In the Etla Valley north of Oaxaca City, villagers
stage a play in which they visit houses and on
this one night, possessed by the spirits, they
can insult even the highest officials.
stage a play in which they visit houses and on
this one night, possessed by the spirits, they
can insult even the highest officials.
Competition for the best offering (ofrenda)
or sand painting attracts visitors to
Oaxaca's village of XoXo.
or sand painting attracts visitors to
Oaxaca's village of XoXo.
Competition for the best altar
at Oaxaca's,Main cemetery.
at Oaxaca's,Main cemetery.
The Day Of The Dead in Oaxaca,
Mexico is something special.
Making photos in the cemetery
under not much more than
candlelight can be difficult.
Imagine a cemetery in the dark of
night ablaze with thousands of
candles, the people of the village
sitting by the gravestones in a night
vigil as the men gather and chant,
the scent of copal incense and the
perfume of marigold flowers fills the
air.
The people welcome your visit and
are proud of their decorations.
Tripod use is acceptable.
It starts in the afternoon of the last
day in October when the families go
to the cemetery to clean and
decorate the tombs.
Tripods are helpful and not
prohibited.
The afternoon preparations can
deliver good photos.
Most families don't object to your
making of photos but it is polite to
ask first.
Mexico is something special.
Making photos in the cemetery
under not much more than
candlelight can be difficult.
Imagine a cemetery in the dark of
night ablaze with thousands of
candles, the people of the village
sitting by the gravestones in a night
vigil as the men gather and chant,
the scent of copal incense and the
perfume of marigold flowers fills the
air.
The people welcome your visit and
are proud of their decorations.
Tripod use is acceptable.
It starts in the afternoon of the last
day in October when the families go
to the cemetery to clean and
decorate the tombs.
Tripods are helpful and not
prohibited.
The afternoon preparations can
deliver good photos.
Most families don't object to your
making of photos but it is polite to
ask first.
Oaxaca's hotels, restaurants and shops on the pedestrian-only streets. decorate their
entryways with marigold in a friendly competition and restaurants feature the Regional cuisine of
Oaxaca.
entryways with marigold in a friendly competition and restaurants feature the Regional cuisine of
Oaxaca.
Where is Oaxaca and how do you get there:
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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.
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
October, 31
Xoxocotlan. This town a few miles southwest of Oaxaca City has two Cemeteries, Cementario Viejo, and
the new Cementario Nuevo.
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
Custom Search
The Day of the Dead Festival is a three day
November holiday when families prepare the
tombs for the return of the spirits. During this
time families leave offerings of food and drink
for the spirits in the home and at the cemetery.
November holiday when families prepare the
tombs for the return of the spirits. During this
time families leave offerings of food and drink
for the spirits in the home and at the cemetery.
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