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| November 2, 2009 | (Use j/k keys to navigate)  Email to a friend  Permalink |
Days of the Dead
From October 31st through November 2nd, a number of festivals, holidays and solemnities take place, all loosely related and revolving around remembrance of the dead. Halloween, Samhain, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, the Day of the Dead and other festivals trace their origins back to Celtic, Aztec, Roman and Christian traditions. Halloween is largely a secular observation these days, All Souls and All Saints remain mainly Catholic observations, and the Day of the Dead is still largely a Latin American tradition, its roots in Mexico's Aztec heritage. Collected here are photographs over the past week from the varied observations of the Days of the Dead around the world. (37 photos total)
A skull covered in marigolds rests in front of a wall of graves during preparations for a massive altar in the San Fernando Cemetery in Mexico City, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Workers added thousands of marigolds, known in Mexico as "cempasuchil," to giant skull images Tuesday as they prepare to observe the of Day of the Dead. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
A marigold hangs on crosses covering part of the U.S.-Mexico border wall as part of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Tijuana, in Mexico, Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. Volunteers from the Pro-migrant Defense Coalition hung 5,100 wooden crosses in honor of 5,100 migrants who have died crossing to the US since 1995, according to their statistics. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias) #
Miranda Galan (center) was one of 80 third grade children from the North School that made a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston on a field trip from New Hampshire on October 30th, 2009. In the spirit of Halloween students got a surprise gift from MFA director Malcolm Rogers and Bob Gallery, Masachusetts President of Bank of America when they handed out Egyptian masks and toured the "Secrets of Tomb 10A" exhibit. (David L Ryan / Globe Staff) #
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet trick or treaters at the North Portico of the White House as they celebrate Halloween in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2009. The First couple welcomed more than 2,000 children from Washington, Maryland and Virginia schools and their families to celebrate Halloween. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) #
A man walks past graves of those killed during the unsuccessful Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis, on August 1, 1944, which lasted 63 days, at the Powazki military cemetery in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. All Saints Day is a national holiday in Poland during which Poles visit graves of their loved ones to light candles and lay flowers. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) #
Queens Ana Maria Sosof Pacach, 19, right, and Glenda Araceli Kua Ajsac, 15, pose for a picture prior to the ceremony in which the new Todos Santos' Queen will be elected in Todos Santos, northwestern Guatemala, Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, part of the local observation of the feast of All Saints, for which the town is named. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) #
Children wear costumes to celebrate the Day of the Dead as they visit an altar assembled by artists for the dead at the National Autonoma University of Mexico in Mexico City October 30, 2009. The university dedicated altars assembled by artists to the late U.S. writer Edgar Allan Poe, to commemorate the bicentenary of his birth. (REUTERS/Eliana Aponte) #
Carlos Estrada of Santa Rosa, entertains motorists under the Highway 12 overcrossing at Olive Street as he brings up the rear of an immigrant march that started on Sebastopol Road and ended at Santa Rosa's city hall, Saturday Oct. 31, 2009 in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Press Democrat, Kent Porter) #
A Filipino family uses a makeshift raft to paddle their way through a flooded cemetery in suburban Angono district east of Manila on November 1, 2009. Millions of Filipinos across the country trooped to cemeteries to honour their dead on All Saint's Day, a day after typhoon Mirinae slammed into the country and killing at least 14. Mirinae's rains and strong winds also compounded the emergency situation for tens of thousands already left homeless by two previous storms that had killed over 1,100 the past five weeks. (JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images) #
A Ring-tailed lemur at Bristol Zoo Gardens investigates a carved pumpkin that had been left as a special Halloween treat in its enclosure on October 28, 2009 in Bristol, England. The gift of the pumpkin does have a serious side, as they are a great addition to the animals' regular diet as they are high in vitamins, potassium, protein and fiber - as well as being the perfect enrichment toy, since the animals have to delve inside to reach the succulent flesh and plump seeds. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #
More links and information
Halloween - Wikipedia entry
Samhain - Wikipedia entry
All Saints' Day - Wikipedia entry
All Souls' Day - Wikipedia entry
Day of the Dead - Wikipedia entry
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
No. 8 Did you see those two guys in the upper left? What's that all about?
People in Haiti have Blackberries?
32, la mejor de todas
interesting stuff.
buenisimas fotografias!!
No. 11 - Awesome dog costume
@Scary Spice... I had the same startled reaction. However upon better inspection, I think it's the White House Chefs, not the KKK.
@Scary Spice: The guys in #8 are dressed up as Secret Service agents. Chewbacca and the Stormtrooper are the the real Secret Service agents.
#11 Funniest costume ever! Good job as always, thanks for the pictures! :)
No. 8....Those are White House chefs or kitchen staff
wicked set!
Um, did you see Michelle Obama's face in no. 8? Forget the two guys on the left. She looks like she's gonna eat that little kid.
#20 - what's in the jug between the guy's legs?
I missed a picture about the memorial day here in Brazil. I'm a photojournalist of a newspaper from Florianópolis (capital of Santa Catarina state, at the south region).
I've published yesterday a picture about the preparations to the memorial day (or the day of the deads) here in Brazil in my blog http://acaoecontexto.wordpress.com/
Here we celebrate the the day of the deads on november 2nd and I made that (and some others) picture(s) for Notícias do Dia's newspaper in the Itacorubi's cemitery - the same name of the neighborhood where it's located.
Pity that light conditions didn't allow for a bit more DOF in #19.
Great as always!
Chewbacca at the White House!!
Awesome!!
@pk, n°2:
If I understand what you mean by Blackberry (the phone which is in the middle, right?), well that's not a Blackberry.If I'm not mistaken, that's a Samsung phone developed especially for developing countries, in order for them to have access to (high) technology at a low price.
Thanks for this great serie, it gives a stunning example of the various rituals around the world. I'm particularly amazed by 22 and 27.
35 of the girls is really cute
No. 10 is the one. It's all there. A poetic picture with a (poignant) message.
A complex composition that works very well. Great shot.
Ahhh no New Orleans Voodoo Music Experience? three crazy days in the big easy
No. 8: If Chewbacca lives at the White House, you must acquit!!
Great job!! no.8 is definitely the scariest!!
#15, Why?
i loved the girl with pumpkin it is awesome
#15 WTF
@pk
Maybe it's not a Blackberry. But, if it is, is it so surprising? Technology is not for America only, I guess...
#7 would not be appropriate entertainment at the "Stumbling Drunks Tavern", much less for school children. I hope Laura Bush and other proper First Ladies never see this pure trash.
Nice compilation, it really shows the plurality about this subject.
people,u are really going back to the olden days,the days of superstitions.see,the dead are in their graves.i guess it wouldnot benefit them in the least if u celebrate on their behalf,but u can help them by praying for them and that could benefit them.
Bobert (comment 27)...that's a weird comment. Not sure of your point.
A) - proper First Ladies... how might you believe that our current First Lady is not proper (are your racist or just inappropriate and disrespectful?)
B) - You would be "proper" if you focused your comments on the photography and these great displays of Day of the Dead traditions and take your commentary elsewhere, like a political blog. Maybe you'll find better pure trash there.
@27, here's a quarter, get a sense of humor.
@ Scary Spice (#1)...you mean the two chefs in the upper left of Photo 8? C'mon...stop looking for things to get excited about and enjoy the pictures. Do you really think that our president would be dumb enough to have people dressed like the KKK at their house? You're an idiot...think before you type.
Great photos from all over the world!!
Hey Bobert708. (comment27) My guess is that YOU just got home from the "Stumbling Drunks Tavern". Your political hack blog trash is lame at best. I dare you to talk about the content of any of the other photos...go ahead...no really...like the beauty of the kites in #22 or the dedication of a Filipino family in #34 to visit a family grave in the midst of their umpteenth flood there this year or the Polish soldier in #10...Those are the things that Laura Bush and the other proper first ladies would have talked about. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the "Happy Drunks Tavern" and raise a toast to the dead. There are so many of them who I miss. "Saude!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Great photos as usual.
I hope my tax dollars didn't pay for that candy in number 8. Halloween is based on religious ideals and holidays. Why is my government participating?
espectaculares fotos:)
@29
@33
It was so nice.
Wow...one of the best photo collections I've ever seen!!!
jeśli kiedyś będę miała dzieci to będę je przebierać za zwierzątka i owady na codzień:) pozdrawiamy!
OMG! They've got Chewie!
I can't believe you've posted just a few pictures of Mexico.
We have here thousands of places where the celebration is so rich and beautiful. Lots of photographers covering the events.
It's a shame.
affreux
The people on the upper left of picture 8# are from the dutch television, they do commercials for food. (kroketten van Mora)
pic 4 O-o-o-o-o!!! Thank Halloween Glob...
Great collection. Correction on 21 and 22. It's Vodou, or Vodoun. Voodoo is not correct. The man in #22 is possesed by the spirit of the dead called Gede or Baron. It is not a performance.
You miss the celebration in Janitzio Michoacan México, wich is so special. ...Nice photos, thanks for this collection, is amazing how the world remember his deads......19 my favourite...
@NObama (34) You're so stupid. The president pays for food out of his earnings, so it's a likely answer that the first family bought this candy on their own. And even if they didn't, who cares? That's like less than a fraction of a fraction of a cent per American for that candy. And just because thee first family chose to have a celebration at the white house doesn't mean it's federal policy to celebrate Halloween or any other holiday. I mean, do you bitch online at Christmas when the White House puts up a tree?
Great photos! I love the girls in ladybug and bee outfits, charming little creatures, not scary at all :)
magnificent!!!!
Some absolutely fantastic photos there.
what is all this about celebrating the dead? You cant celebrated death. This is just pure pagan belief incorporated into other religions. I just think this as nonsense. I share the view of @29. There much better and noble things to celebrate.
NObama, your signature says it all. If things were different and it were John and Cindy doing this, you would have been gushing about how normal and down-to-Earth they were.
That said, there are a lot of Halloween pics and not as many of all the interesting Day of the Dead, or All Saints Day celebrations as I was expecting.
In Hinduism there is a similar period - "Pitra Paskha" (literal = Father's Period).
"Pitrapaksha gives a chance to repay debt to our deceased ancestors by gratifying their spirits. As such, Shraddha is a "debt of the dead"or "ceremonies of the dead" which should be performed, assuming that the dead ones are alive amongst us."
Didn't really know why was Halloween, All Saint's Day were celebrated up until now. Thanks for putting up these pictures.
I've been wondering about #15 myself, but was unable to find anything more than generalities. From what I've managed to read, it looks like the alcohol is part of a night-long celebration that starts with ritually getting completely hammered (totally true). The woman may be "blessing" the horse, from what I'm reading. There are often fatalities in the race (since everyone is still blind drunk), and these are considered to be sacrifices to the gods and a blessing, not a bad thing.
Fascinating custom. Love hearing about new things!
Superb images as usual. #27, 33 and 35 are my favourites!
anyone up in arms over a white house halloween celebration is grasping at something to be outraged over. it's sad and small.
gorgeous shots (as always). thank you, big picture.
Yeah, just as Xmas is borrowed time-wise to subsume Yule... wasn't the Census historically found to be in Autumn or something?
Love the variety of pictures though.
Shame there are no old-fashioned "punkies" (i.e. turnips), you know, the things that got carved _way before_ the New World was found.... but pumpkins are ubiquitous now... (and at least they are very nutritious and easier to carve... goooooo Lemurs!)
so, no piccies of _unusually_ carved fruit then (D20, Ash from Evil Dead, Enterprise: see thinkgeek)?
not only in Poland ist't a holyday but in many country's of Europe as Belgium, France, Germany and other
we all know that the wookie is hella strapped
Secret service agents dressed as chewie and stormtrooper, legit!!
For Day of the Dead, it looked pretty lively.
Amazing photography. Thank you.
I'd love to see more images of New Orleans in the blogs posts referring to Creole, Catholic holidays. NOLA is more a northern Caribbean than Southern city, and to leave the city out in photo essays for both Carnival and All Saints/All Souls Days seems an awfully silly oversight.
but... but... is it Christian?
Great compilation, but I agree with Juanjo (#40) that you miss A LOT of shots from here in Mexico. It would bi nice to have a set from Mexico (not only the big problems). Please consider our petition Boston.
Thanks, and keep on being the best photo blog of the net.
The photos are great, I think you should have taken photos at Nicaragua, they also celebrate it at Masaya. It is called Los Aguizotes. It would have been interesting.
estan super las imagenes
I like Picture # 28!!!! The guys are a little overwight but it looks like they are having fun!!!!!
15# ewwwwwwwwwww the hourse most win runing faster to get away from another discusting alchol spit
What, No New Orleans Voodoo Fest? Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!!
Exceptional images, all of them!
#8 i think the first lady didn't need a costume, if i were the kid, i'd be scared already :D
I really like pictures 26 and 29. 26 especially - it looks like a picture I would hang on the wall of my home.
Good Creativity Dog Costume
Awesome...
I was at the Zombie Walk in Paris... He, he
(but sadly, I'm not on the picture, that would have been awesome)
@PK Regarding # 20
That is a Motorola f3, one of the worst mobile phones I have ever seen and the cheapest one that you can buy in Brazil. Do a google image search on it, it is Incredibly Bad!
In their own context, all the images are great. What a sample of this tradition around the globe! What I don't like is the text in the introduction that says "...Day of the Dead is still largely a Latin American tradition, its roots in Mexico's Aztec heritage." That is so wrong... I like Mexico and Mexicans,as a matter of fact, I married one; ; however, I don't like that so many people -especially in the US- think of Latin America as a whole as it is Mexico. For better or worse, every country has its own identity, traditions, gastronomy, etc. and being Guatemalan, I have to add, my heritage is Maya and I am very proud of it!
@Scary Spice and every one else who is questioning what the two people are on the top left of the picture:
They are not KKK. Who in the KKK wears a red boa? And who in the KKK would be stupid enough to show up at the white house?
#32 hit those drums
I was surprised to see a stormtrooper still at the White House; I thought they all lost their jobs when Darth Cheney and company left.
Great photos. Nice to see a likable president at the White House.
Nice shots!