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Altar de Muertos (The Altar for the Deceased)

Remembering to the deads with love,

making them an offering or taking flowers to their tomb.

Lighting the candles to the 8:00 night.

because it is the hour of the Souls.

In some homes of Mexico is a custum to prepare the altar for the deceased. At the altar people put all the objects the person used to enjoy in life. A photo of the person occupy the principal place of the altar; on a side they put the saucers the deceased used to like the most, their favorite things, a book, cigars, and also their favorite bottle of liquor and food. "...the deceased could come back to the house that day and has to be welcome".
COMMENTS
Chingyo said at 3:16 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
This is a lovely way to remember them, and your pictures are beautiful! In Japan, this is also done in August during a holiday called obon - the same thing with candles, food, flowers, pictures, and the dead coming back for a visit.
Jasontengco said at 3:55 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
cool! we have this here in the Philippines as well. we have every 1st of november, so tomorrow is a national holiday. on this day, people go to the cemeteries where their loved ones are burried and light candles, say prayers and offer food and flowers. it's nice to know that a very similar thing is being done in other parts of the world!
Sydney.michelette said at 5:02 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Great pics to show "Altar de Muertos". In Brazil we have "Dia de Finados" on 2.november and it's a national holiday too. But here, the day have a religious caracter only. People visit your "dear died people" on cemetary, with flowers and candles.
Chiloedream said at 5:24 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Une très belle façon de faire perdurer le souvenir des disparus. Un parnet s'en va, un ami disparait, mais la pensée demeure. Un grand bravo NOE, amitiés.
Chiloedream said at 5:25 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
read : "un parent s'en va" Amitiés.
Gustavo said at 6:53 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Felicitaciones. Has captado muy bien el espiritu de esta celebracion tan tipica de Mexico.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:54 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
It's amazing how Mexican culture deals with those who are already gone. It's both scary and tender, dark and enlightened. Dead are still alive, not only in one's memories...
Caitbrowne said at 7:42 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Beautiful
DEE-Trow said at 7:43 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
This is quite a celebration for the dead. This is something I have never seen before. I like the concept. Death is not final. We just on to a better place. These pictures really capture the mood.
Engelgrafik said at 8:21 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
We really have nothing like this here in the US. We have a "Memorial Day" which is mainly to remember the people in the military who have died in service to our country. And we have Halloween (used to be called All Hallow's Eve) which is actually the direct opposite of your Day of the Dead. While your Day of the Dead is meant to welcome the spirits, our Halloween is meant to scare away spirits. Well, mostly "bad" spirits. That's why we dress in weird and scary costumes, in hopes that it scares them away. The truth is, most people don't even think that anymore... only a few people dress scary now. Most people dress funny or historical characters, so the meaning has been lost among a large amount of people.
Kl75214 said at 8:38 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
thank you for the invitation. Living in Mexico I have seen the commemoration of the Dead first hand. Your pictures capture it nicely. I am looking forward to visiting the alters of the dead over the next few days. It is my favorite Mexican custom. Keep up the good work. Your passion for photography shows itself in your work.
Ahizny said at 8:43 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Stunning! The colors are as vibrant as the symbols are reverent. Great collection -- the pictures are phenomenal, especially given the challenges of taking them in the very limited lighting. My favorite: the bottom left-hand corner, showing the aisle bordered by sugar skulls. That's a fantastic angle!
Mthorne said at 9:10 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
very nice tabblo.
Jillcdunn said at 9:49 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
These are really awesome pictures Noe. I think this is such an interesting custom. You did a fantastic job capturing the spirit of the occasion in your tabblo. All the colors are so beautiful. Great work!
enriquea_ruiz@***.com said at 10:34 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
ai si... ahora resulta que todo el mundo celabra el dia de muertos igual que en Mexico...jaja...ntc... muy buenas fotos carnal... como siempre me fascinaron!!!!!
Thebeautifullife said at 11:03 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
This is the best day of the dead display I have seen (displayed in pics, i mean). Nicely captured and explained. I love the idea of remembering your dead loved ones. This takes so much love and effort: it is not just a passing easy thought.
Setu said at 11:35 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
the second pic is my favourite, just appears very indian to me ! we have a custom called "shraadh"
in india. I'm surprised to see skulls in such a spiritual display, because I always thought skulls are
related to something evil !
Noe said at 11:51 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Thank you for all your comments guy, you're so nice! The celebration for the dead is next 2nd of november in Mexico too, and the people go to the cemeteries too that day very early in the morning, I will try to wake up that day early and take some photos in the cemeterie. I live in the north of Mexico and this is not a very deep-rooted custom here like in the center and south of the country. =)
Noe said at 11:52 a.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Sorry if my english is not very good.
Joaqy said at 12:41 p.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Very colorful. Nice to see similar tradition and culture.
Siagian said at 12:50 p.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
i find it very interesting how the different cultures of OUR world relate with death. from mourning to celebration to everthing in between. awesome photos.
Noe said at 12:51 p.m. on Oct 31, 2006:
Yes Joaquin, it's nice to see that are similar traditions between the countries
Banafsheh said at 12:33 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
story telling!
ElZorroTOX said at 8:10 a.m. on Nov 1, 2006:
I was in a Mexican restaurant/bakery in San Antonio (Texas) the first time I saw an "Altar de los Muertos" and I didn't know then what I was really looking at but I still found it fascinating. I spent a lot of time looking at it. Given that I had a lot Mexican friends in college I was surprised that this had never come up in conversation. Thanks for sharing.
Liliana said at 9:28 p.m. on Nov 2, 2006:
¡Interesantísimo! No es una novedad para mí la tradición del el Día de los Muertos en México, pero sí esto que explicás de los altares hogareños. Gracias por mostrar tan bien (lástima qe solamente en inglés pero... así es Internet...) algo tan profundo como esta parte de la cultura de tu país.
Noe said at 2:31 a.m. on Nov 3, 2006:
Gracias por tu comentario Liliana... si, prometo escribir los siguientes tabblos en ambos idiomas =) lo que pasa es que hay gente de todo el mundo aqui y pues el ingles es el idioma comun entre todos. Saludos desde Chihuahua!
Nmat said at 7:05 p.m. on Nov 5, 2006:
I love the spirit of this celebration, and Engelgrafik is right, we have nothing close to it in the US. Reverence for and companionship with ancestors are wonderful concepts that should be celebrated by everyone.
Cynnyw said at 9:18 p.m. on Nov 13, 2006:
cool! I like it how they prepared it in such a colorful way. Chinese has a similar custom, however it's mainly decorated with black and white..
Alex_regio said at 12:28 a.m. on Nov 28, 2006:
Noe: Thank You for share a little bit of our great culture, traditions and history to the rest of the world, this is for what I think the photography is intended to also, great handling of color and light. Thanks
EMA said at 2:17 p.m. on Dec 1, 2006:
Very nice and interesting tabblo. I love this kind of way to learn about other cultures.
Thank you! My best regards!
L.e.n.k.a said at 8:29 p.m. on Feb 14, 2007:
veri impressive and deep pictures....
Albert_09 said at 2:47 p.m. on Nov 5, 2007:
Muchas gracias por tu invitación, es un poco diferente a la tradición de España, es muy interesante.
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