Fiesta! Dia de los Muertos

Catrina, the universal Abuelita (little grandmother)
of Dia de los Muertos, isn't she jolly?
Her hat reminds me of my grandmothers,
they both loved a good hat!

What is my preoccupation with Dia de los Muertos? I think it springs from living here in Southern California for so long, being exposed to the celebrations and coming to understand it a little better, I just love this tradition. On Dia de los Muertos you honor your family members and loved ones who have passed, by remembering them, celebrating their life, setting out an 'altar' (offerenda) with photos of them, food and items they loved, so their spirit comes to visit again. There are flowers (marigolds), traditional food (pan de muerto, or 'bread of the dead'), traditional music and dance (folklorico), gathering at the cemetary to visit with those who have gone ahead, some very fun and funky art featuring skeletons (calaveras) acting as they did in life - dancing, eating, playing music and being merry, and wonderful parades in costumes and make-up.


Some time back I found some great fabrics to play with, I have made a journal cover with a little of the fabric, but mostly I've hoarded it - I need to break down and make something with it!

My friend Hope gave me this cool skull for my birthday, she knows how much I love DDLM and correctly thought I'd love this too. It sits on top of my computer armoire, keeping me company year-round, I love the cheerful smile :)

Imagine my surprise, and yes, total delight, in Switzerland this summer when I found these cases displayed in the monastery church at Engleberg! These are skeletons decked out most beautifully in silver and diamante brooches, even the eyes are diamantes, with ornately tooled silver adorned cases. I wasn't able to find out who they are, although I'd guess they are either past priests or saints, preserved for all time.

In Italy you see a lot of relics in glass cases in the churches, but they are usually clothed and masked, these are the only ones I saw in Switzerland at all, and certainly the only ones with the bones exposed that I've seen anywhere. I loved all the jewelled adornments, wow!! There are rows and rows of jewelled 'brooches' in the cases below the skeletons too. I'm thinking that maybe they're like the silver hearts I saw in Italy, all offered in thanks for miracles and favors bestowed by the saints/venerated.


To see my past ramblings about Dia de los Muertos, including the fabric journal cover, just click HERE and scroll down.