Day of the Dead Sand Painting Juan Cruz Pascual, Oaxaca Mexico
The Day of the Dead Sand
Painting has become
popular in Oaxaca.
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.
Painting has become
popular in Oaxaca.
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
base 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 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.
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
base 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 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.
Day of the Dead Sand Paintings
are becoming popular, but 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.
are becoming popular, but 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.
In the new cemetery of Xoxocotlon, artist Juan Cruz Pascual decorates with a sand
painting that includes Christian motifs. Xoxocotlon celebrates October 31, Evening
painting that includes Christian motifs. Xoxocotlon celebrates October 31, Evening
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.
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.
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.
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 Cruz Pascual creates a sand painting with a border of flowers and candles. This painting
depicts the Virgin of Soledad, the Patron Saint of Oaxaca.
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 on an
unexpected visit.
unexpected visit.
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 latest trend is to
make large sand
paintings. This one
done at the new
museum in Oaxaca's
former Government
Offices
(left) is traditional with a
Christian motif. Others
will have a Native
American theme like
this one (right) inspired
by the Mixtec codex.
The latest trend is to
make large sand
paintings. This one
done at the new
museum in Oaxaca's
former Government
Offices
Meanwhile each Oaxacan 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.
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.
Cemetery decoration for the day of The Dead
is often done in flowers.
Each year on October 31 the family goes to the
cemetery and cleans the grave and decorates
it in hopes to please the spirit
is often done in flowers.
Each year on October 31 the family goes to the
cemetery and cleans the grave and decorates
it in hopes to please the spirit
The Day of the Dead fills the
markets with flowers the last
week in October
markets with flowers the last
week in October
Two Styles of
Sand Painting
Sand Painting
Custom Search
A huge sand painting done on the floor of the new museum in Oaxaca's former Government Offices
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Day of the Dead Sand
Painting by Juan Cruz
Pascual
Painting by Juan Cruz
Pascual
Day of the Dead Sand Painting as done by Juan Cruz Pascual
has become popular in Oaxaca.
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.
See the list of cemeteries below with best times to go
has become popular in Oaxaca.
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.
See the list of cemeteries below with best times to go
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
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
Reach the Xoxocotlan Cemeteries: The Day of the Dead Cemetery visit transportation is
available from Oaxaca city by bus, taxi, or car. Xoxo Cemetery visits occur on October 31.
First time visitors are best off with one of the many Oaxaca Tour Agencies such as Borroco
Tours located on Garcia Vigil (street) They arrange small or large group van tours for visitors
to the village of Xoxo for the two cemeteries. They guide you in the cemetery, help you make
photos, and provide local information about the event.
Otherwise the best option is taxi or collective taxi. Arrange for your return or determine the
loading place at the village when you arrive. It could be difficult to find later in the evening.
The collective taxis for Xoxo leave from a depot on Calle (street) Miguel Cabrera, five blocks
south of the Zocalo.
available from Oaxaca city by bus, taxi, or car. Xoxo Cemetery visits occur on October 31.
First time visitors are best off with one of the many Oaxaca Tour Agencies such as Borroco
Tours located on Garcia Vigil (street) They arrange small or large group van tours for visitors
to the village of Xoxo for the two cemeteries. They guide you in the cemetery, help you make
photos, and provide local information about the event.
Otherwise the best option is taxi or collective taxi. Arrange for your return or determine the
loading place at the village when you arrive. It could be difficult to find later in the evening.
The collective taxis for Xoxo leave from a depot on Calle (street) Miguel Cabrera, five blocks
south of the Zocalo.