El Dia de Los Muertos 2014

Dia de Los Muertos, Oaxaca, Mexico

Maybe it's a past life thing but for many years I've looked forward to El Dia de Los Muertos like a child awaiting Christmas.  Although I'm not of hispanic descent,  I've embraced the culture and enjoy celebrating the lives of friends and family no longer with us. Around mid-October I climb into the attic and pull down the boxes of catrinas, calaveras, sugar skulls, textiles, family photographs- and so much more- that I've accumulated over the years.  These are the makings for my ofrenda, or altar, that I build for the Day of the Dead. A big part of my joy is revisiting this collection of objects. 

In addition to building the altar, I transform the house with my collection of handmade pillows, masks, and other objects relating to the holiday - many purchased on my trips to Mexico.

Felted skeletons I found on Etsy

Small collection of calacas, calaveras

This guy looks pretty happy

Every year I do things differently. Sometimes, weather permitting, I build the altar outdoors. We had an abrupt change in the weather this past week so this year I chose the living room.  

I begin by layering the textiles over tables, risers and boxes.  Then I add the photographs, candles, fresh fruit and flowers.  Many friends and family have added to the altar so I continue to include their offerings from past years.  This year we added a painting of our sweet dog, Scout, who we lost in January.

Layered textiles I've collected over the years

Our 2014 ofrenda

Our beloved Scout

Paige left us way too soon

  I have a few friends over to celebrate each year and this year I decided to make party favors from interesting images of calaveras. I decoupaged them to matchboxes and filled the boxes with M&Ms. It was my first foray into glitter and I think I'll be seeing glimmers of glitter for many years to come. It's everywhere.  Oh, and I forgot to hand out the party favors until half of the group had departed. :(

Party favors

Glitter everywhere for days

Another first this year was handmade tissue paper pom poms. I found a great tutorial here and after a total fail in my first attempt, I watched the complete video and the rest turned out well.

Easy to make paper pompoms

On the day of the party I decorated the tables. A friend suggested offering mask painting and although I had no idea whether people would participate, it ended up being a great success. Thanks for the idea, Linda, and all those great art supplies! I also put out paper flowers and butterflies for Frida-style headbands.

Sugar skull from Mexican Sugar Skull online store

Mask painting and floral headband art supplies

Everyone seemed to really get into the mask painting and a few made floral headpieces.
 

Lots of crafty activity

Mask painting fun

Find rhinestone and glittery stickers at the Dollar Store and Michaels

The outdoor contingent

Fabulous headband creation

Another beautiful Frida-inspired headband

 

Loved their creative energy

Carl and I

Celebrating and Remembering

This past Friday my friend, Penny McElroy,  and I hosted a Dia de Los Muertos party at my home.  In 2008 we had traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico with four other friends to experience the holiday. Since that time I've wanted to expand on my own personal celebration with a bigger, community based expression.  I asked Penny if she'd like to co-host the event with me and she thought it would be fun. Penny teaches at the University of Redlands and chairs the art department. She designed a fun invitation.

Carl and I renovated our back yard last year and I was waiting for the right time to hold our first party.  So Penny and I got to work. We created a large U-shaped altar outside with three tables and covered them with a variety of embroidered textiles and colorful papel picado.  We also built an arch which we embellished with hundreds of paper marigolds.  To the tables we added candles, fresh fruit, bread, a pitcher of water and our personal ofrendas (offerings) to friends and family no longer with us.  I hung a drawing of calavera cyclists by my uncle, Charles Richard Bjorkman, inspired by the Mexican artist, Jose Guadalupe Posada. Uncle Dick is no longer with us but he held a prominent spot on our altar.

I lined the steps up to the house with luminarias- paper bags filled with sand and candles. I loved the way they looked as the sun went down.

We asked the guests to bring items to add to the altar, as well. While many friends were familiar with the holiday, we learned that many of them were not and had spent a good amount of time researching its symbolism and meaning.  One couple researched the traditional bread, Pan de Muerto, and baked several loaves.

Penny compiled an incredible playlist of traditional Mexican music which really enhanced the experience.  Many people mentioned how much they enjoyed the music and a few danced!

I ordered the food from our local Ranch Market which serves the Hispanic community. They prepared three kinds of tamales, two kinds of savory empanadas, and two kinds of sweet empanadas. Later in the evening, we roasted marshmallows over the fire pit.

It's always fun to realize one's dream...and this year, celebrating El Dia de Los Muertos, was just that.  From idea to reality.