Dia de los Muertos at Self Help Graphics 2013 / 40th Anniversary

We participated in their workshops to make these calaveras. We met every Saturday of October for three hours until the day of the procession from Mariachi Plaza to Self Help Graphics on Nov 2nd. We had a wonderful time. These calaveras are all paper mache. 

Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Cemetery 2009

It's that time of the year when we remember our relatives who have passed on to the other side. Dia de los muertos is becoming just as popular as Christmas. I prefer the Day of the Dead a lot more than Halloween. This year we went to celebrate at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery where there were altars, music, vendors and grave sites. It was a an amazing visual experience. Here is my gal in her princess costume and her face painted like a calavera. She loved it as much as I did. It's nice to have a companion to enjoy these wonderful experiences. Click on this link: Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Dia de Los Muertos  to see the website.

Life size paper mache sculpture in the mausoleum. 

My sister with Toot watching a performance in the mausoleum. 

Toot was also drawn to these two women (men?). Their costumes and makeup were wild. I wish I had taken a better photo.

This was the stage background. It was enormous and beautiful. I was reminded of my childhood when we would go to Tijuana. In Tijuana I was mesmerized by all the amazing colors and smells that were so different from here at home. I want my girl to experience as many places and events like this while she is young so that she may also have the connection of my family's culture.  

Oh! and we got to see and hear Lila Downs perform on this stage. Great voice and performer! A first for all of us.

I will leave you with these photos of our experience. Celebrate! May you have a safe and fun Halloween or Dia de los Muertos and remember your family and friends who have gone on to the spirit world.