El Dia De Los Muertos/ Day of the Dead
Patzcuaro is the authentic heart of Mexico.It is full of colorful traditions some pre-Columbian. The town was founded by Purépechas. It is famous for it’s artesenia.Lake Pátzcuaro translates as the “place where one finds stones that mark the entrance to paradise.” Day of the Dead is celebrated very intensely in the towns and villages around Lake Pátzcuaro. Preparations include major cleaning and repair of the local cemeteries and the creation of flowered arches for gates of the atriums of local churches. These are made with a flower called cempasúchil, related to the chrysanthemum. In the early morning of November 1, the “velación de la angelitos” (wake for the little angels) to honor children who have died during the previous year. This is generally done in the local cemeteries. Wonderful sugar and chocolate skeletons are sold throughout the days before the festival. This is a celebration of the dead and the dead are believed to come alive again for one day. Festivities continue to midnight on November 2, which begins the “velación de los difuntos” (wake for the deceased) when again the towns gather in local cemeteries. This time men remain outside. Women and children enter to lay offerings of flowers and food, Many people sleep at the graveside of their loved ones or sit in vigil.
Day three day of the dead was a lazy day but at night we organised with Camila and Anton to go to see the celebrations by taxi. We went to the island of Janitizio first then to Cucuchucho and then to Tzin Tzun Tzan. The best was the final two but Janitizio was interesting. We climbed up a steep hill passing stalls selling goods all the way up. The graveside was very busy. We also went up the hill to see the statue which was very modern. The gravesides were very atmospheric. Got home around 3 am exhausted.
Next day just hung out. Day later went to Uruapan but jumped a bus to Anguahan Michoacán. It was a very long journey and we didn’t even want to see the place. Jen rode a horse back to the bus stop. The town had a view of a city that had been destroyed by lava from the volcano.
