Better Than Going to the Parade

Last Saturday was the big Day of the Dead Parade.  We were talking about attending, but come Saturday morning, we just didn't feel like standing for hours and dealing with a crowd of spectators that was later estimated to be 1.6 million.

Instead, we hopped on Metro Line 12 and took it to the end of the line to the far southern district of Tlahuac.  Just a short walk from the Metro station is Francisco Santiago Borraz Street where for the past fifteen years residents have joined together in decorating their street for the Day of the Dead season.  The effort is spearheaded by a local handicraft workshop called Jaén Cartonería which produces large works of papier mache.  We have been visiting for several years, and we always enjoy seeing how the neighbors have turned their five-block-long street into a Day of the Dead extravaganza.

Here are some photos of this year's display...

  

At the entrance to the street

This papier mache creature was the local entry in last month's "alebrije" parade.

Notice that this "catrina's" dress is made of corn husks.

A wedding couple... 'til death do us part

A "carpet" made from colored sawdust

More to come from this festive street in Tlahuac...

Hallelujeh!

(image sent to me by Alejandro)
The orange Cheeto gets crushed!

Last night, at around 7 PM (Central Standard Time) I started watching the midterm election results.  (Fortunately, ABC News was streaming live over YouTube.)  I had high hopes that this election would be a resounding rebuke to the administration of the orange "pendejo".  There seemed little doubt that the Democrats would take the House, but control of the Senate was less certain.

When they projected a Democratic victory in South Carolina fairly early in the evening, I thought, "This is going to be even better than I had hoped."  I wondered if the neighbors could hear me applauding each time a Democratic victor was projected.

My former home state of Ohio used to be a swing state, but in the last ten years it has turned red.  Thus, I was very happy to see Sherrod Brown win the Senate seat, and glad that Amy Acton defeated that scumbag Ramaswamy in the governor's race.  Even in my Congressional District the Democrat defeated Max Miller, who has been accused of abuse of his ex-wife and daughter.

For years it has been said that the demographics in Texas would eventually turn it into a blue, or at least a purple state.  It appears that has finally happened with Democratic victories in the races for Senate and Governor.  Kansas has not had a Democratic senator for nearly a century, but it will have one in the new session.

I turned the TV off around midnight.  At that point Michigan had not been called, but it looked pretty good for El-Sayed.  And then the biggest shock... the Democrat was winning by a mere handful of votes in Mississippi!  That race is still not decided, but to imagine that a Democrat might win Mississippi is incredible.

One of the commentators on ABC was former GOP governor Chris Christie.  I have never cared for him, but I give him credit for his criticism of the "pendejo".  As the news became more grim for the Republicans, Christie pronounced, "This is the end of the Trump era."  I certainly hope so!

  

Two Ballets in One Week

Last week I went to two performances of the Ballet Folklórico within a couple of days of each other.  When my friend Heather was here we went to a performance on Wednesday evening at the Palace of Fine Arts.  Two days later, when Charles was here, we attended a special Day of the Dead outdoor performance at the lake in Chapultepec Park.  I have been to the Ballet Folklórico countless times, and I never tire of seeing it.  In fact, each time I come away with a renewed love for Mexico.

Two of my favorite segments of the ballet are those which deal with the music and dance from the states of Veracruz and of Jalisco.

Last year Alejandro and I went to the Day of the Dead performance in Chapultepec Park.  We enjoyed it very much, and when we knew that Charles would be here at that time, we asked him if he would be interested in seeing it.

"Death in Mexico is more alive than ever."

This performance is quite different from those at the Palace of Fine Arts.  Seats are set up along the edge of one of the lakes in the park, and the dancers and musicians perform on an island.  We arrived early enough that we were able to get front row seats.

The performance begins with a segment devoted to the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Mexico.

Throughout the show, decorated boats sail across the lake.

A song from the state of Michoacán

The show ended with a mariachi band and the dancing of the "jarabe tapatío" (known north of the border as the "Mexican Hat Dance").

 It was, as always, a spectacular performance.

For both Heather and Charles, the Ballet Folklórico was a highlight of their visit.

Tomorrow is Election Day

 

If you have not already cast your ballot by mail or in early voting, be sure go to your polling place tomorrow.  Don't be complacent.  This is perhaps the most important midterm election in our nation's entire history!

Two Visits to the Market

After my friend Heather departed Mexico City, another friend, Charles, arrived for a few days here before moving on to other parts of the country.  I took each of them to my favorite market, Jamaica Market.  Every time I have visitors come to Mexico City, I include the Jamaica Market as one of the places to see.  (If you have been following this blog for a few years, you have already undoubtedly read about it.)  It is a fascinating place any time of year, but during the Day of the Dead season, it is even better.  It is perhaps the best place in the city for buying Day of the Dead decorations and objects for your "ofrenda".  There are more than 1000 vendors selling flowers, making it one of the city's most colorful places, but this time of year there are also more marigolds than you have ever seen.

So, here a some photos and videos that I took on my two recent trips to my favorite market...

The Jamaica Market is housed in a large building.  As with other public markets in the city, there are stands selling fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, clothing, and household goods.

However, it is the market's gigantic flower section that makes it famous.

In the days leading up to Day of the Dead, there are enormous quantities of marigolds for sale... potted marigolds, cut marigolds, even bags of marigold petals to scatter as a path leading to the "ofrenda".

Marigolds are brought in by the truckload.

Another flower that is used during the Day of the Dead is a variety of celosia known in Spanish as "terciopelo" (velvet).  It's deep red color represents the blood of Christ.

Our friend Charles stands in front of a heap of marigolds.  Charles lives in Puerto Rico, so he is fluent in Spanish.  However he had difficulty remembering and pronouncing the word used in Mexico for marigold...  "cempasúchil", a word that comes from the Aztec language of Nahuatl.

The market was also full of handicrafts and decorations for the Day of the Dead (and for Halloween).  Here Heather stands in front of the large papier mache skeleton.

There are plenty of "catrina" figures (the elegantly dressed skeletons that are a symbol of Day of the Dead).

There are lots of restaurants within the market.  I frequently go to a stand called "Carnitas Paty" where they sell delicious pork tacos.  When Charles and I were there, we had just finished a big breakfast, so we didn't eat any tacos.  However, Charles did try "tepache", a refreshing beverage made from slightly fermented pineapple and brown sugar.  ("Tepache" is another word from the Aztec language that was new to Charles.)  He really liked it.

The Day of the Dead season would not be complete without a visit to the Jamaica Market, and this year I was there twice!

Day of the Dead

This is the eve of the Day of the Dead.  One of the most beautiful and traditional observances of the holiday is on the island of Janitzio in the middle of Lake Pátzcuaro in the state of Michoacán.  Alejandro found this video, and although the printed narration is in Spanish, I thought that you might enjoy it.

 According to local belief, the gateway to heaven is located over Lake Pátzcuaro.  The souls of the departed return in the form of monarch butterflies.  (The monarchs return to their winter sanctuaries in the mountains of Michoacán around November 2nd.)

Neither Alejandro nor I have seen the observance of Day of the Dead on Janitzio, but we hope to do so someday.

Two Days to Election Day

 

(image taken from the internet)