DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2015 AT

THE HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY

By Giselle Vizcaino

D I A D E L O S M U E R T O S O R D A Y O F T H E D E A D I S A L A T I N A M E R I C A N C U S T O M T H A T

C O M B I N E S I N D I G E N O U S A Z T E C R I T U A L W I T H C A T H O L I C I S M B R O U G H T T O T H E

M E X I C A N R E G I O N B Y S P A N I S H C O N Q U I S T A D O R S . D I A D E L O S M U E R T O S I S

C E L E B R A T E D O N A L L S A I N T S D A Y.

DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION HISTORY

Since the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many rituals have been created by cultures to try to give meaning to the existence of human life. Throughout time, many have asked these questions:

Why do we die?

Is there an afterlife?

Can we do something in this life to be able to enjoy the afterlife?

T O T H E I N D I G E N O U S M E X I C A N P E O P L E , D E AT H WA S C O N S I D E R E D A

PA SS A G E T O A N E W L I F E .

T H E D AY O F T H E D E A D I S A B E A U T I F U L R I T UA L I N W H I C H M E X I C A N S A N D L AT I N A M E R I C A N S L O V I N G LY R E M E M B E R T H E I R

R E L AT I V E S T H AT A R E N O L O N G E R L I V I N G.

SUGAR SKULL

There is deep meaning behind the sugar skulls that decorate the tombs and the homes of the deceased people in Mexico during Dia De Los Muertos. As much as possible, these skulls must be homemade because they are an offering to their dead loved ones. It is very common to see the sugar skulls on a tomb besides the deceased favorite food or items.

S K U L L S C O M E I N D I F F E R E N T S I Z E S A N D C O L O R S . T H E Y A R E N O T A L L M A D E O F S U G A R

PA N D U L C E O R S W E E T B R E A D M A Y H A V E B E E N O N E T H I S M A N S FA V O R I T E F O O D A N D H E M A Y

H A V E L O V E D B U T T E R F L I E S .

GIL PASSED AWAY FROM SKIN CANCER.

A D E C O R AT I V E S KU L L , T H E V I R G I N M A RY A N D B E E R .

I A N C U R T I S W A S A N E N G L I S H M U S I C I A N A N D S O N G W R I T E R . H E I S B E S T K N O W N A S T H E L E A D S I N G E R A N D

L Y R I C I S T O F T H E P O S T P U N K B A N D ” J O Y D I V I S I O N ” A N D R E L E A S E D I T ’ S D E B U T A L B U M , “ U N K N O W N P L E A S U R E S ”

I N 1 9 7 9 .

LOVE WILL TEAR US APART

RITUALISTIC SHRINES

I T W A S V E R Y PA I N F U L F O R T H I S W O M A N T O S P E A K A B O U T H E R S O N J U A N T H A T D I E D I N

T H E V I E T N A M W A R . I T B R E A K S H E R H E A R T T O S E E T H A T E V E R Y Y E A R T H A T G O E S B Y, S H E H A S

T O A D D M O R E P I C T U R E S T O H E R A LT A R S .

O N T H E L E F T I S A S H R I N E T H A T W A S B U I LT B Y D O N A T E D B I C Y C L E R I M S F R O M P E O P L E W H O

H A V E B E E N H U R T O R L O S T T H E I R L I V E S W H I L E R I D I N G A B I K E . O N T H E R I G H T I S A B E A D E D S K U L L O N A B E D O F C O L O R F U L F L O W E R S .

MUSIC AND DANCE

LIVE MUSIC

THE MAUSOLEUM

T H E S E C O L O R F U L H A L L S C O N T A I N E D D I A D E L O S M U E R T O S I N S P I R E D P A I N T I N G S . T H E S A I N T S W E R E

D E C O R A T E D W I T H F L O W E R S A N D C O L O R F U L L I G H T S .

SAINTS

JOHNNY RAMONE

STATUES IN THE LAKE

ANDREW LOVED TO SKATEBOARD

THE WIZARD OF OZAuntie Em: Help us out today and

find yourself a place where you won’t get into any trouble!

Dorothy: A place where there isn’t any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It’s far, far away.

Behind the moon…behind the rain... Somewhere over the rainbow.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE TRADITION OF A PAINTED FACE?

Some sugar skull painted face are creepy or morbid but they often depict the spirit of a cheerful and happy loved one. The bright color, jewels and patterns portray the amAzing colors of life and often contain some hints of the loved ones personality, attitude or beliefs. These beautiful decorations make the sugar skulls seem very alive and as you will clearly see, this tradition goes beyond just decorating a skull made of sugar.

T H E S E A Z T E C R I T U A L D A N C E R S W E R E B L E S S E D W I T H S M O K E B E F O R E T H E Y P E R F O R M E D I N F R O N T

O F T H E I R A U D I E N C E .

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE?