The Village
Mexican Catrinas
Cempasúchil flowers fill the arches that represent the entrance portal from the afterlife with bright colours. This Mexican flower, which grows during the Day of the Dead season, decorates the arrival of the two catrinas. These figures, which originated in the late 1800s, represented the newly rich with an impoverished soul and were later popularised by Diego Rivera’s murals. Although, with the passage of time and the evolution of the celebration, they’re now perceived in the collective imagination as the deceased.
The altar
The main element of the Day of the Dead, setting up the altar for a loved one is a ritual in itself. To welcome the souls as they deserve, the offering must include their photograph, their favourite food or drink, lit candles to guide them, water, salt and incense to purify and decorative elements such as flowers, catrinas or papel picado.
Papel picado
Originally from the state of Puebla in Mexico, this decoration’s designs are created by hand with a chisel and hammer. Although present in most festivities, on the Day of the Dead they play a leading role: the movement of this light material announces the arrival of souls from beyond.
Cartonería skulls
Present in the region’s culture since the time of the Aztecs, skulls began to decorate altars after the arrival of Catholicism. These skulls are usually created by hand using cartonería, a traditional Mexican technique that uses layers of paper glued together with flour and water.
