Halloween Bazaar

The Day of the Dead season is in full swing.  Last Sunday Alejandro and I went to the Paseo de la Reforma for a full day's worth of things that we wanted to see.

The previous day we had noticed that a "Halloween Bazaar" was being held that weekend in a parking lot near the intersection of Insurgentes and Paseo de la Reforma.  Halloween is celebrated in Mexico although some traditionalists complain that north-of-the-border customs such as jack-o-lanterns and trick or treat are mixing in with and corrupting the observance of Day of the Dead.

Tents were set up in the parking lot, and vendors were selling a variety of merchandise including clothing, jewelry, artisanal soaps, candles, etc., etc.  Some of the products for sale were related to Halloween and the Day of the Dead, although many others were not.  We spent about a half hour wandering through the bazaar, and I did buy a couple of items.

This stall had hand-made candles, some in the shape of skulls or pumpkins.  I already had a skull candle for my "ofrenda".  However, the vendor also had candles that are scented with copal, an incense that is burned to attract the souls of the departed.  As, I mentioned yesterday, I did buy one of those.

Several vendors sold sterling-silver jewelry.  If you look closely, you can see that some of these earrings are in the shape of skulls.  I bought a pair of those.

With each purchase you received some coupons which you could redeem for a marigold plant.  Obviously, we didn't want to lug around a potted marigold all day.  Later in the early evening we returned but they had already given out all of the marigolds.

Methinks this inflatable decoration was manufactured in the U.S. or China, since any Mexican would tell you that the holiday is properly called "Día de Muertos" (leave out the "los").

More to come from along the festive Paseo de la Reforma.