Oaxaca Day of the Dead, Legend and History
Oaxaca Day of the Dead, Legend
and History:
The Marigold Flower is prominent during
the Day of the Dead Festival in Oaxaca.
This three-day November holiday sees the
families cleaning the graves and preparing
the tombs for the return of the spirits. During
this time flowers decorate the tombs and
home altars. Families leave offerings for the
spirits in the home and at the cemetery, they
leave paths of marigold flower petals to
guide the spirits.
and History:
The Marigold Flower is prominent during
the Day of the Dead Festival in Oaxaca.
This three-day November holiday sees the
families cleaning the graves and preparing
the tombs for the return of the spirits. During
this time flowers decorate the tombs and
home altars. Families leave offerings for the
spirits in the home and at the cemetery, they
leave paths of marigold flower petals to
guide the spirits.
A visit to the cemeteries near
Oaxaca on the first two nights of
November can be a magical
time. Thousands of candles
and tons marigolds and
cockscomb flowers 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.
Oaxaca on the first two nights of
November can be a magical
time. Thousands of candles
and tons marigolds and
cockscomb flowers 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.
The markets are full of flowers that the families will use to decorate their home altars and tombs
Marigold and cockscomb are the flowers with special meaning. The marigold, the Fleur de Meurto, or
flower of death is most significant.
In the evening the families decorate with this flower and sit by the tombs waiting for the return of the
spirits.
Marigold and cockscomb are the flowers with special meaning. The marigold, the Fleur de Meurto, or
flower of death is most significant.
In the evening the families decorate with this flower and sit by the tombs waiting for the return of the
spirits.
In the new cemetery of Xoxoccotlan, artist Juan Cruz Pascual decorates with a sand painting replete
with Christian motifs Xoxocotlan celebrates on the last night of October
with Christian motifs Xoxocotlan celebrates on the last night of October
In the town of Tlalixtac south of Oaxaca City, on the night of
November first, the families sit by the decorated tombs while brass
bands move through the cemetery
November first, the families sit by the decorated tombs while brass
bands move through the cemetery
Part of the
excitement of
the season in
Oaxaca
comes when
the shops in
the
cosmopolitan
city decorate
with candles
and flower
petals in an
unspoken
competition of
artistic display
excitement of
the season in
Oaxaca
comes when
the shops in
the
cosmopolitan
city decorate
with candles
and flower
petals in an
unspoken
competition of
artistic display
Oaxaca City becomes an exciting place to be during the festival. The city comes alive with music,
Oaxacan art, museum exhibitions, and the decorating of altars in the pedestrian-only streets.
Oaxaca's hotels and shops decorate their entry ways and the restaurants feature the regional cuisine of
Oaxaca as they spend the last week of October preparing for Oaxaca's Day of the Dead.
Oaxacan art, museum exhibitions, and the decorating of altars in the pedestrian-only streets.
Oaxaca's hotels and shops decorate their entry ways and the restaurants feature the regional cuisine of
Oaxaca as they spend the last week of October preparing for Oaxaca's Day of the Dead.
Although Europe has a similar visiting of the
grave on All Saints and All Souls day, the
trappings of Oaxaca's ritual has non -Christian
undertones.
The use of skulls on the offerings, (in modern
times candy skulls), has an archaeological
counterpart. According to some archaeological
reports, excavation of ancient tombs reveals
skulls grouped together, disarticulated. The
skulls might have been used in ritual, removed
from the tomb each year.
Tombs in ancient burials also have offerings of
plant material and ceramic vessels.
grave on All Saints and All Souls day, the
trappings of Oaxaca's ritual has non -Christian
undertones.
The use of skulls on the offerings, (in modern
times candy skulls), has an archaeological
counterpart. According to some archaeological
reports, excavation of ancient tombs reveals
skulls grouped together, disarticulated. The
skulls might have been used in ritual, removed
from the tomb each year.
Tombs in ancient burials also have offerings of
plant material and ceramic vessels.
The festival belongs to the indigenous people after all, they continue the ritual regardless of the Christian
Spanish overtones and the further one travels from the city of Oaxaca the more pagan the ceremony
becomes.
Spanish overtones and the further one travels from the city of Oaxaca the more pagan the ceremony
becomes.
Oaxaca Day of the Dead,
Legend and History:
During Oaxaca's Day of the
Dead, Marigold flowers and
Chocolate play important
roles.
The spreading of flower
petals in a trail to the grave
and the inclusion of chocolate
in the building of an altar
(ofrenda) suggests a
pre-Hispanic origin for the
custom.
Chocolate is a new world plant
and spreading flowers before
the feet of the emperor was a
common pre-Hispanic ritual.
When archaeologist excavate
2000 year old sites they often
find offering of vessels
containing food residue.
Legend and History:
During Oaxaca's Day of the
Dead, Marigold flowers and
Chocolate play important
roles.
The spreading of flower
petals in a trail to the grave
and the inclusion of chocolate
in the building of an altar
(ofrenda) suggests a
pre-Hispanic origin for the
custom.
Chocolate is a new world plant
and spreading flowers before
the feet of the emperor was a
common pre-Hispanic ritual.
When archaeologist excavate
2000 year old sites they often
find offering of vessels
containing food residue.
The extensive use of the Marigold flower, a plant called Fluer de Muerto is of ancient origin for the
ceremony as is the burning of copal incense, a practice reported by the first Spanish conquerers.
ceremony as is the burning of copal incense, a practice reported by the first Spanish conquerers.
Oaxaca's Days of the Dead ritual has a history that started well before
the arrival of the Spanish. Christian and Indigenous beliefs come
together on the night of October 31 to create a spectacle full of symbols.
the arrival of the Spanish. Christian and Indigenous beliefs come
together on the night of October 31 to create a spectacle full of symbols.
Oaxaca's Day Of The Dead celebration is a time for the indigenous
people to decorate their home altars with marigold flowers, chocolate,
loaves of special bread, and candles. The families then gather on the last
day of October to go to the cemetery where they decorate their tombs.
They welcome visitors who come to the cemetery as they sit by the
graveside in a night vigil of waiting for the return of the spirits.
people to decorate their home altars with marigold flowers, chocolate,
loaves of special bread, and candles. The families then gather on the last
day of October to go to the cemetery where they decorate their tombs.
They welcome visitors who come to the cemetery as they sit by the
graveside in a night vigil of waiting for the return of the spirits.
Marigold is the important flower the
Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
Throughout Mexico.
In the remote villages, the people
use a wild version of the Marigold.
The small wild version flowers nearly
year round and is plentiful in the
fields in October.
In Oaxaca, the indigenous people
call the flower Cempasuchitl in the
Nahuatl language (Aztec)
The Spanish name for the flower,
flor de muerto, means flower of
death.
Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
Throughout Mexico.
In the remote villages, the people
use a wild version of the Marigold.
The small wild version flowers nearly
year round and is plentiful in the
fields in October.
In Oaxaca, the indigenous people
call the flower Cempasuchitl in the
Nahuatl language (Aztec)
The Spanish name for the flower,
flor de muerto, means flower of
death.
In the city and more affluent towns, tons of domesticated and
cultivated marigold flowers decorate the graveyards. The
people go to the cemetery at night and hold a cemetery vigil
by candlelight at the decorated tombs. Atzompa October 31
cultivated marigold flowers decorate the graveyards. The
people go to the cemetery at night and hold a cemetery vigil
by candlelight at the decorated tombs. Atzompa October 31
Marigold, The Day of the Dead Flower:
The people of remote villages having meager
means to buy the cultivated Marigold, will harvest
the wild plant and use it to construct their
offerings. (Ofrenda, an altar of sorts with gifts for
the dead)
The Family will gather to remove the petals from
the flower and spread them on the ground to
make a path to the house and to the grave. The
pungent aroma of the marigold and the bright
color of the yellow petals will guide the spirit to
the home altar (ofrenda) and to the cemetery.
The people of remote villages having meager
means to buy the cultivated Marigold, will harvest
the wild plant and use it to construct their
offerings. (Ofrenda, an altar of sorts with gifts for
the dead)
The Family will gather to remove the petals from
the flower and spread them on the ground to
make a path to the house and to the grave. The
pungent aroma of the marigold and the bright
color of the yellow petals will guide the spirit to
the home altar (ofrenda) and to the cemetery.
A candle for Susan, Atzompa . October 31
The cemetery of Xoxocotlan
celebrates on the night of
October 31. Atzompa Oct. 31
Tlalixtac de Cabrera November
1, Oaxaca City, Nov. 1
San Felipe del Agua, north of
Oaxaca City November 2,
celebrates on the night of
October 31. Atzompa Oct. 31
Tlalixtac de Cabrera November
1, Oaxaca City, Nov. 1
San Felipe del Agua, north of
Oaxaca City November 2,
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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, Cemetario Viejo, and
the new cemetery 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,
Vllage 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, Cemetario Viejo, and
the new cemetery 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,
Vllage of San Antonino Castillo Velasco A flower growing village that celebrates a week after the others
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Oaxaca's Day of the Dead involves legend and history including
the use of marigold flowers and chocolate during the festival. The
spreading of flower petals to the grave and the use of chocolate
in the building of an offering have pre-Hispanic roots.
the use of marigold flowers and chocolate during the festival. The
spreading of flower petals to the grave and the use of chocolate
in the building of an offering have pre-Hispanic roots.
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