Dia De Los Muertos Event

Yesterday, Gail and I took in the big Day of the Dead event at the California Mission in Oceanside.  Immigrants, mainly from rural areas in Central and Southern Mexico, have brought their cultural traditions northward.  They have nothing to do with Halloween, but are a way of remembering and paying respect to deceased loved ones.

The morning started out foggy, but soon warmed up.

This is the oldest pepper tree in California.

The inner courtyard of the mission had many altars to remember dead family members.  All those marigolds are believed to lure the spirits of  dead loved ones to the altar.

Those bread loaves were very ornate.

This was the entrance to the car trunk altars of several different car clubs.

This altar was for a son who died at the age of four months.

The altars always include some of the honored person's favorite foods, sports items, vices, etc.

An altar for a breast cancer victim.

A very custom car with 5 flat screen TVs!

 

A unique blend of religion, traditional customs, and modern culture!

The mission has been beautifully restored.

Besides folklorico dancing, there was a contest for Catrina Princesses, and King.  This girl was later crowned princess!

 Another girl with her mom?

The little kids were really cute!

The judges compare notes.  The emcee here was asking the audience, "Who is from Oaxaca?  Who is from Sinaloa?  Who is from Guanajuato, etc.? The audience cracked up when a woman yelled out, "Bakersfield!"

The winning princess!

 The mission cemetery.

 There were many booths.  This one was for a funeral home! 

It was time for us to jump on the I-5 and head to Cafe 21 in San Diego for a "class" on how to paint skulls.  Adios!