Monday, October 31, 2011

Altars and Offerings

Altars and offerings for Noche de Muertos / Night of the Dead have been set up in many in public and private places, an integral part of the rituals that precede November 1st and 2nd in the Lake Pátzcuaro region.

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More about Altars & Offerings.

Living in the Centro Histórico.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Las Flores –The Flowers

The flowers (zempasúcitl / marigolds)  and their fragrance fill Calle Serrato next to the Basílica. Don’t miss a stroll along this street where people go to buy flowers for Night of the Dead / Noche de Muertos. The flowers will be used for decorations, altars and at the cemeteries.

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A field of zempasúchitl flowers.

Flower slide show on Flickr.

Pátzcuaro living.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Folk Art on the Plaza Grande

The tianguis were up yesterday on Plaza Vasco de Quiroga and during the night wares streamed in with the artesans and vendors. The plaza should be in full swing today presaging observance of Noche de Muertos/Night of the Dead.

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The two biggest celebrations in Pátzcuaro are Semana Santa and Noche de Muertos. It is an indulgence to peruse and enjoy arts and crafts from all over Michoacán—and beyond—gathered in one place.

Typical Tianguis on Plaza Grande
See Callejón del Sol, just two blocks from Plaza Grande.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Harbingers of Noche de Muertos

Night of the Dead will soon be here. The earliest harbingers are the confections, los dulces, which have just appeared on Plaza Vasco de Quiroga.

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We sit under the portal. Sugar and chocolate skulls fix on us with vacuous eyes from their display tables. Deep in their conversations, local warlocks congregate thickly at tables of six and eight, elbow to elbow with the sweet and bedecked skeletons and bones. Few women are here this evening at 7:00 PM.

Sweets for the Night of the Dead
Near Plaza Vasco de Quiroga

Friday, October 7, 2011

The rains have passed…

…and myriad flowers regale our eyes. I stand and drink in the fields of Cosmos as their faces follow the sun.

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Flora and Fauna
Rain
Patzcuaro…life is good.