Day of the Dead Sand Paintings, Oaxaca
The Day of the Dead Sand Paintings in Oaxaca are done in
two ways, the flat and the bas relief. Sand paintings are part
of the October/ November holiday during which families
clean the graves and prepare the tombs for the return of the
spirits.
See cemetery schedule below, for the best times to go
two ways, the flat and the bas relief. Sand paintings are part
of the October/ November holiday during which families
clean the graves and prepare the tombs for the return of the
spirits.
See cemetery schedule below, for the best times to go
Day of the Dead Designs With Flowers
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.
The tapete 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, high relief.
The sand paintings honor either a saint or an
important historic figure. Some of the recent
versions have tried to make a political
observation.
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.
The tapete 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, high relief.
The sand paintings honor either a saint or an
important historic figure. Some of the recent
versions have tried to make a political
observation.
The Day of the Dead
in Oaxaca:
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 offering tables and
tombs.
The sand painting has
become popular in some
villages as artists develop
the technique.
in Oaxaca:
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 offering tables and
tombs.
The sand painting has
become popular in some
villages as artists develop
the technique.
A sand painter uses
stencils to decorate a
tomb with colored sand.
stencils to decorate a
tomb with colored sand.
The Day of the Dead sand
painting to the left is
traditional flat, done with
stencils and colored sand
and powder.
To the right is a Native
American theme inspired
by the Mixtec codex.
The new trend is to make
large sand paintings. The
one pictured at the top of
this page, done at the
museum in Oaxaca's
former Government Offices
building is a huge bas relief.
painting to the left is
traditional flat, done with
stencils and colored sand
and powder.
To the right is a Native
American theme inspired
by the Mixtec codex.
The new trend is to make
large sand paintings. The
one pictured at the top of
this page, done at the
museum in Oaxaca's
former Government Offices
building is a huge bas relief.
The Day of the Dead in Oaxaca sees each village in the surrounding
mountains and valleys celebrate at different times and with different
intensity.
Several use sand paintings or a combination of sand and flower petals.
The evenings are unique as families come to the graveyards and light
thousands of candles as they sit by the tombs and wait for the spirits to
return.
mountains and valleys celebrate at different times and with different
intensity.
Several use sand paintings or a combination of sand and flower petals.
The evenings are unique as families come to the graveyards and light
thousands of candles as they sit by the tombs and wait for the spirits to
return.
Day of the Dead Cemetery Visit
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.
Day of the Dead Street Sand Paintings
The buildup 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, most of them in high relief.
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.
Day of the Dead Street Sand Paintings
The buildup 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, most of them in high relief.
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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 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.
Reach Xoxocotlan: first time visitors are best served by going with a tour company although the village
is near Oaxaca city and easily reached by public bus, taxi, and collective taxi.
Collective taxis run from a station on Calle (street) Miguel Cabrera five blocks south of the Zocalo.
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. Arrange for a return trip.
Day of the Dead November 1
Oaxaca City Cemetery, Panteon General on the east side of the city, 7 blocks east of the Santo Domingo
Church 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.
Reach Xoxocotlan: first time visitors are best served by going with a tour company although the village
is near Oaxaca city and easily reached by public bus, taxi, and collective taxi.
Collective taxis run from a station on Calle (street) Miguel Cabrera five blocks south of the Zocalo.
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. Arrange for a return trip.
Day of the Dead November 1
Oaxaca City Cemetery, Panteon General on the east side of the city, 7 blocks east of the Santo Domingo
Church 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
The Day of the Dead Sand Painting combines the traditional flowers
that decorate the tombs with colored sand, this on a traditional flat
sand painting. Flowers are used on home altars and tombs but in
some villages, the popular decoration is the sand painting both flat
and bas relief.
that decorate the tombs with colored sand, this on a traditional flat
sand painting. Flowers are used on home altars and tombs but in
some villages, the popular decoration is the sand painting both flat
and bas relief.
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Day of the Dead Sand Painting display, Oaxaca Museo de Palacio, a huge sand
painting done on the first floor in high relief
painting done on the first floor in high relief
Day of the Dead Sand
Paintings in Oaxaca are less
popular than the painting with
flowers. Each village differs in
style.
Paintings in Oaxaca are less
popular than the painting with
flowers. Each village differs in
style.
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Cemetery Schedule, best times to visit Oaxaca area cemeteries
Oaxaca Day of the Dead flower
Market, marigold and cockscomb
Market, marigold and cockscomb