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Dia de los Muertos in Old Mesilla, NM

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This past Sunday, November 2, Chris, a photographer friend, and I hopped into her car and took a beautiful, back road drive to Mesilla, New Mexico, a small town near Las Cruces.  We had heard about the 3-day Dia de los Muertos celebration that takes place every year, so decided to check it out.  It is one of the many Day of the Dead celebrations that takes place all over the Borderlands area.  The plaza in La Mesilla Historic District, a National Historic Landmark since 1961, hosts the celebration, which included ofrendas (altars), an Irag and Afghanistan Peace Crane Memorial, music, dancers, art vendors, costumed people, food, fun . . . and personal silence and meditation.



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The Iraq Peace Crane Memorial is a project of the Las Cruces Society of Friends (Quakers), started in 2003.  An origami paper peace crane, folded by Friends and school children, is affixed above the name of each fallen soldier.   In 2011, it was expanded to include those who died in Afghanistan.



Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of human life.  November 1, called Dia de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) or Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels), celebrates the babies and children who passed on.  November 2 is Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and honors adults.  Since loved ones who have passed on are still seen as part of the community, the celebration includes an invitation for the dead to return to their family for a visit.  Ofrendas (altars) are built and often contain photos and memorabilia of the loved one(s), favorite foods and beverages and flowers (typically orange marigolds).  Pan de muertos (bread of the dead) is sometimes offered and ornate sugar skulls are left, many inscribed with the name of the deceased on the forehead.  



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A sugar skull that was placed in an ofrenda



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Pan de Muertos (bread of the dead) offered at one of the many ofrendas.



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I unexpectedly ran across one of my favorite people, Jordan, and her husband.  Jordan is the manager of Boba Cafe in Las Cruces and is a fun, fascinating person to chat with.  Plus I LOVE her paint job.  



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A lady with her beautiful Catrina skull makeup.


The main thing I wanted to see and mull over at the celebration were the ofrendas honoring deceased loved ones.  Many were set up all around the plaza, in all different styles, all with their story to tell.  Here are some of the ofrendas that caught my eye and struck my heart the most, ones that need no explanation:



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These need a bit of explanation:



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An ofrenda set up for the women who lost their lives in Juarez, Mexico, the violence plagued city just across the border from El Paso, TX.  it also honors those who are still there ad are trying to make a life for their families.  The prayer flags say "Love for Juarez".  I fly similar prayer flags on our upstairs balcony that say "Paz por Juarez" - Peace for Juarez.



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This ofrenda was set up to honor the thousands of immigrants who lost their lives while trying to make their way across the border and through the desert.


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This is the "path" leading up to the ofrenda for the immigrants.



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There was even an ofrenda for dearly departed pets.



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A close up of La Catrina with her dog and other animals found on the ofrenda de los animales.



My last photo share is a photo looking out over about 1/2 of the plaza with colorful ofrendas in front, the peace crane memorial, vendors and  the Basilica de San Albino is the background:


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I hope you enjoyed this short Dia de los Muertos journey.  It was a beautiful celebration honoring those that have gone on ahead, some way too young.  It also helps to put life into perspective and makes you want to live each day to the fullest and the best.  I hope to make it back next year.


If you would like to make my day, please leave a comment.   Any and all promotion will also be greatly appreciated.


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