SARKA VANCUROVA
PHOTOGRAPHY
'Remembering the death' - The Day of the Death - unpublished photo's from the article
"Célébrer la mort au Mexique "
Day of the Death ( El Dia de los Muertos) is a celebration of the souls of the dead ancestors who come once a year onst and 2nd of November to the Earth to visit their families members and friends. Everybody is creating "ofrenda" and decorating their graves. They prepare the favourite food, play the dead's favourite music, put their favourite drinks on the ofrendas, for the children their favourite toys.During this period there is a belief that the deceased have a divine permission to visit
and enjoy the pleasure of life again.
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While on a freelance assignment for Lapresse.ca, I loved the atmosphere on the cemeteries, that transform in one big party with flowers, music, drinks on the graves telling stories and reminding them of their dead loved ones.
Abandoned grave , Old Panthéon, Oaxaca, 2022.
Maria Magdalena Mathias Ruiz at the grave of her sister who died at 15 years old, in 1966. During "the Vela", candle light night in the Old Panthéon , Xoxothlan, Oaxaca, 2022.
A woman preparing "Berlas", flowers that are used for the decoration of the graves. Panthéon Saint Miguel, Oaxaca, 2022.
Family López at the grave of their mother, wife and grandmother, Panthéon Général, Oaxaca, 2022.
Mother of Tayde Regina, who died on 27.08.2018 of a brain tumour, comes every year on 1st November, the ' Day of the Dead Angels"to sleep by her daughter's grave. Panthéon Saint Miguel, Oaxaca, 2022.
Lulu, whose father was a firefighter, decorates his grave with the sculls of fighter fighters. Symbol of the skull is perceived in Mexican culture as a reminder of the cycle of fertility, nutrition and rebirth as much as a symbol of death. Panthéon Général, Oaxaca, 2022
Three Brothers and two sisters around a grave of their mother Delfina. Panthéon Général, Oaxaca, 2022
A family from Mitla came to the grave of their dead ancestors to have a lunch with them. Panthéon. Général, Oaxaca, 2022.
One of the abandoned graves at the Panthéon Général, Oaxaca, 2022.
Luis is contracted by the municipality to repair, paint the graves and water the flowers at the cemetery. He says because of the two-year closure of the cemetery during the pandemic, the graves need now an extra care and cleaning. Panthéon Saint Miguel, Oaxaca, 2022.
Ashly made a "ofrenda"( altar) at her house for her seven deceased. She put fruits, sweets, bier, sculls, toys and etc, all the things that her deceased liked when they were alive. She commemorates them every year during the celebration the Day of the Death, eats with them by their altar.and play the music that used to play together.
Oaxaca, 2022