Amy and I live outside of the city and usually stay at home most of the week. But during Dia de Muertos, we go to see events almost every day. This year, friends from the USA arrived to Oaxaca to enjoy the fanfare and we had the pleasure to meet them and share good times.
Día de Muertos in Oaxaca is a vibrant and deeply spiritual celebration honoring deceased loved ones. The city and villages transform with colorful altars (ofrendas), marigold flowers (cempasúchil), candles, incense, and offerings like food, drinks, and personal mementos. Processions, music, and community gatherings fill the streets. On November 1-2, families spend time in cemeteries where loved ones have been laid to rest. Graves are covered with flowers to honor and summon back the souls of the deceased.
(Street celebrations. About 5 min.)
I like going to the graveyards to see the transformations. I try to be extremely respectful about taking pictures. Our village cemetery becomes awash with vibrant orange cempasúchil and blood red cockscomb. It touches me deeply that not a grave goes unnoticed. All the buried folk have flowers thoughtfully placed on their grave to serve as remembrance.
(A visit to our village cemetery. About 2 3/4 min.)
Beyond the festivities, Día de Muertos reflects a profound connection to the cycle of life and death. It is a time to acknowledge mortality not with fear but with reverence, love, and gratitude. By inviting the spirits to return, families strengthen ties between the past, present, and future, celebrating life’s continuity and the enduring presence of ancestors in daily life.
 |
| Our ofrenda for Dia de Muertos, 2024 |