Los Tuxtlas - Santiago, San Andres and Catemaco
dias de los muertos - Nov. 1st and 2 nd. / 2006
(At the time I wrote this report I was living in Catemaco)
Nov 2nd. 2006: This thursday morning past I decided I was going to check out the dia de muertos festivities in Catemaco and a couple neighboring towns of San Andres Tuxtla and Santiago Tuxtla. First I went to the central park in Catemaco to see the "ofertas".. which is what they call the displays they build in remembrance to those who have passed away.
It was early, a little overcast and not many others were in the park.. The ones that were there were those who had maintained a vigil all night, keeping candles lit, burning incense, but perhaps more important keeping the stray dogs and birds away so as not to eat all the food that had been placed so temptingly close to their reach!!
Foods, drinks, tobacco and other favorite items are provided for the deceased to enjoy on this day ofthe dead. Typical of offerings.. fruits, tortillas, tacos, empanadas, tamales, soups, firjoles, nuts, pan dulce, tabaco, favorite drinks.. etc.
There were many brightly colored ofertas, some for adults and others for children.. Above.. some young boys looking at childrens oferta in Catemaco.
The majority of the displays were for adults with fotos of the deceased in better days.
Next I headed for Santiago by local bus.. upon arriving I walked to the local cematary on the edge of town.. People coming and going all over the place, police directing minor traffic jamb near the entrance..
Bit of bad luck set in here as it began raining right at the time we arrived at entrance of the cemetary in Santiago. The skies looked better to the south of us so we made a quick decision to give up here and try our luck at San Andres. After a 20 minute ride on a local tuxtla bus we got off bus near ADO station in San Andres and followed the 100s' of people who were walking towards the cemetary most with their arms full of flowers .. It turned out to be an even bigger crowd at the entrance here than at Santiago, vendors, police, even a pumper firetruck delivering pumping water into a water tank on the grounds..
I wandered about a bit, first checking out the older section of the cemetary with some stones writings still being ledgible that dated back to early 1800's.. There certainly is a large variety of tombs / markers in a Mexican cemetary.. makes for an interesting walk about.. I took several pictures, I especially like the tomb, designed to look like a castle.
Many of the graves were quiet simple
others much more elaborate
" golden gates to heaven"
It is a local custom that many people spend the night in the cemetary on Nov 2nd.. As I live in Catemaco I had thought about checking it out for a couple of hrs, but a light drizzle set in around 8 that night and I decided against it.. Besides, there is always next year!
If you would like to see a few more of the fotos I took that day clicko on the link....... http://travel.webshots.com/album/555303958aexHgQ
