Noche de Muertos 2010 – #10

A Walk through the Tianguis

Here is just a sampling of the folk art and craft ware on display on the the Plaza Grande today.

		Patzcuaro Tianguis–Noche de Muertos VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Folk Art & Crafts
Live 2 blocks away

Noche de Muertos–#9

The Tianguis on Plaza Vasco de Quiroga

Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, aka Plaza Grande, was restored this year. For Semana Santa, the artesan tianguis were moved to the street next to the Basílica. The whole effect was less than charming. I am pleased to see the tianguis are back at Plaza Grande for Noche de Muertos, but with a change. Instead of being up on the raised plaza itself, the tents are being set up in the street. It looks like the only street on the square that is two-way (on the West side, going up Dr. Coss) may be open to traffic. It seems the plaza itself, with its fountains, benches will be left open for people to enjoy.

I like seeing the folk art from all over Michoacán, as well as from Oaxaca, Chiapas, and a few other places, in one place. I plan to buy some nice gifts.

P.S. - The Dr. Coss side of the Plaza now has tents, as well, with a single one-way lane going South. I would not count on getting a car through. We go on foot to and in the Centro under normal circumstances, which is fun, and for busy Semana Santa and Noche de Muertos people who live here don't even take their cars out.

Noche de Muertos in Patzcuaro
Patzcuaro homes

Noche de Muertos 2010 - #8

The confections have arrived on Plaza Grande. Here is your opportunity to purchase a skull to present to a favorite person. You can even have the person’s name inscribed on the skull’s forehead, as is the custom.

Sweets for Night of the Dead
A place for you in Patzcuaro

Noche de Muertos 2010 - #7

8˚ Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia
Pátzcuaro Extension of the Film Festival
Teatro Emperador Caltzontzin on Plaza “Chica”
No charge to attend

Schedule of 14 film showings during this month of October leading up to Noche de Muertos.

Saturday 16 Oct.
6:00 PM – 90 min.
Héroes verdaderos
Carlos Kuri

8:00 PM – 98 min.
Mi nombre es John Lennon
Nowhere Boy
Sam Taylor-Wood

Sunday 17 Oct.
6:00 PM – 91 min.
El pequeño Nicolás
Le petit Nicolas
Laurent Tirard

8:00 PM – 119 min.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Jan Kounen

Monday 18 Oct
6:00 PM – 106 min.
Revolución

8:30 PM – 109 min.
Tamara Drewe
Stephen Frears

Tuesday 19 Oct.
6:00 PM – 98 min.
Gertrudis
Ernesto Medina

8:00 PM – 99 Min.
Sal y Pimienta
Soul Kitchen
Fatih Akin

Wednesday 20 Oct.
6:00 PM – 118 min.
Los Hermanos Grimm
The Brothers Grimm
Terry Gilliam

8:30 PM – 100 min.
Upperdog
Sara Johnsen
Terry Gilliam

Thursday 21 Oct.
6:00 PM – 123 min.
El mundo imaginario del Dr. Parnassus
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Terry Gilliam

8:30 – 115 min.
Hidalgo
Antonio Serrano

Friday 22 Oct.
6:00 PM – 128 min.
Ágora… La caída del imperio romano
Agora
Alejandro Amenábar

8:30 PM – 78 min.
Norte
Nord
Rune Denstad Langlo

Noche de Muertos - #6

Altars & Offerings Exhibit
Opening 1 November 2010 at 5:00 PM
Biblioteca Gertrudis Bocanegra
Plaza “Chica”, Pátzcuaro
Traditional pozole and atole will be served.

See the altars and offerings for Night of the Dead that are traditional in the Lake Pátzcuaro region.

This year the library will display altars to pay homage to two heroines of the Mexican Revolution: María Gertrudis Bocanegra de Mendoza de Lazo de la Vega of Pátzcuaro and María Luísa Martínez of Erongarícuaro.

The offerings will be in memory of Dr. Aaron Huipe of Pátzcuaro. This young physician died prematurely this past year; he had received many awards for excellence when he was a medical student.

For more about Altars & Offerings.
Your Pátzcuaro.

Noche de Muertos - #5

Exhibit and Sale of Ceramic Catrina Figures
Biblioteca Gertudris Bocanegra
Plaza “Chica”, Pátzcuaro
Formal opening of exhibit – 30 October 2010 at 5:00 PM
On display through 3 November 2010.

Catrinas are skeleton figures, dressed in outrageous clothing and costume, with which Mexico mocks death. For further explanation see  "Catrinas" and Skeletons: Mocking Death in Mexican Culture.

This exhibit will feature hand-selected Catrina pieces from Capula. There will be something “for every pocket”, as one says in Spanish. Prices will range from approximately Pesos $100 to $500.

More about Night of the Dead around Lake Pátzcuaro.
You could walk to Plaza Chica.

Noche de Muertos 2010 - #4

Videos - Noche de Muertos in the Lake Pátzcuaro Region

1. An interesting video of Noche de Muertos Traditions on La Pacanda island of Lake Pátzcuaro.

2. A video of the Purhépecha fire ball game - Uarhukua Chanakua

More about Night of the Dead around Lake Pátzcuaro.
Pátzcuaro living.

Noche de Muertos 2010 - #3

Flor de Ánimas

Flower of Souls
Flor de Ánimas, Yunuén Island
Laelia autumnalis

All over Mexico the ubiquitous zempasúchitl flower(marigold) marks the observance of death. On the Meseta Purhépecha, the high Purhépecha Plateau, in addition to the marigold, a flower less well known is important and traditionally used for celebration of Night of the Dead. This is the delicate purple orchid, endemic to Mexico’s central highlands, called Flor de Ánimas (Flower of Souls). This orchid blooms abundantly in the fall in high oak forests. I have seen these blossoms in profusion on the nearby island of Yunuén on Lake Pátzcuaro.

The Orchidaceae epidendroideae epidendreae laeliinae laelia autumnalis grows in Mexico in the central to southern mountains at elevations of 1500 to 2600 meters. The blooms are fragrant and long-lasting. The bulbs of this orchid is one type of those traditionally used to make a paste mixed with cornstarch to mold figures such as that of the Virgen de la Salud in Pátzcuaro’s Basílica. Some medical research indicates that an extract of this orchid has antihypertensive and vasorelaxant properties; it is also said to cause abortion.

If you are an orquidophile, visit Artesanías La Mojiganga on Patzcuaro’s Plaza Vasco de Quiroga. The owner, Felipe de Ortega, helped me indentify the exact species and scientific name of the Flor de Ánimas. He has many types of orchid plants and items necessary to cultivate orchids.

The myriad orchid plants that Glen has put in the trees in our garden at La Jacaranda are busy pushing out the long, thin shoots that will bear the Flor de Ánimas. And soon we will see vendors offering long stems of these orchid blooms in the streets around the central plazas of Pátzcuaro. These and the street full of flowers that is set up next to the Plaza de la Basílica will herald the individual altars and the decorations in homes that are traditional for Night of the Dead.

Hasta más.

P.S. October 12th - Flor de Ánimas blossoms opened today on two of our plants in the trees at La Jacaranda. What a pleasure.

Links:
Mexican Association of Orchidology http://amo.com.mx/
More about Night of the Dead around Lake Pátzcuaro.
Photos on Flickr of The Flowers.
Why not live in Patzcuaro?

Noche de Muertos 2010 - #2

Night of the Dead Tour - Pesos $470 per person
November 1st, 7:45 PM
Depart from Plazuela San Francisco, Pátzcuaro
Look for the Animecha Tours sign.

Note: Tickets for commentary in English were immediately sold out. Tickets are available for commentary in Spanish.

Kuperantzcua Tzan Animecha
Encounter with the Souls
Tickets available at the Biblioteca Federal Pública Gertrudis Bocanegra on the Plaza “Chica” in Pátzcuaro
M – F 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sat. 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Sun. Closed

If you purchase your tickets at the Biblioteca, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the library.

Ticket includes:

• Transportation
• Charanda (sample regional tequila during the tour)
• Tócuaro - private performance of the Pastorela/Dance of the Shepherds in the mask-maker town of Tócuaro; display of masks.
• Regional Food Buffet with mole, enchiladas, tamales, atole, ponche...
• Jarácuaro – Purhépecha festival to welcome the souls with music, dances and more.
• Graveside vigil in Arocutín cemetery
• Graveside vigil in Cucuchucho cemetery
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish tour guide Jaime Hernandez Balderas (sold out – Spanish only available)
• Souvenir

Make sure you have warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes.

More about Night of the Dead around Lake Pátzcuaro.
Photos on Flickr of The Flowers.
Photos on Flickr of The Cemeteries.
Why not live in Patzcuaro?