CASTANEDA MUSEUM

One of my aunts and I attended a special service for these holy days at a cemetery here in Tucson. Remembering family and friends who have gone before us brought tears to the eyes of all attending. It was an emotional, beautiful service. Throughout the cemetery, many families were picnicking at family grave sites. In Mexico, certain indigenous groups are famous for Day of the Dead altars they construct in their cemeteries, and we have a doll in the Museum collection picturing such an activity. Another photo shows a home altar. Altars are set up in homes, displaying photos of deceased family members. Special Day of the Dead bread, food items the deceased enjoyed while living, (often including liquor), candles, sugar skulls, and other items are placed on the altar, which is strewn with marigolds, the flower of the dead. So departed souls can find their way home, a path of marigolds leads them from the outside to the altar inside. There the deceased can partake of the essence of the..