A Towering "Catrina"

Every year, the city decorates the Zócalo, the main plaza, with what they call a "Mega-Ofrenda".  This year the dominant feature of the "ofrenda" is what was billed as the tallest "catrina" in the world.

Last Sunday, the day before Day of the Dead, Alejandro and I went downtown to see the giant "catrina".  As we walked down pedestrianized Madero Street toward the Zócalo, we could see the figure from blocks away.

The "catrina" is about 110 feet tall, roughly the height of an 11 story building.  It surpasses the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro by about six feet.

Surrounding the "catrina" are large areas of the plaza covered with thousands of marigold plants.  Among the flowers there are figures of "axolotls".  In the last year, the salamander-like animal that inhabits the last remaining canals of the city, has been adopted as the city's symbol.

The twin buildings of the city hall are decorated with lights.  We did not stay until dark.  The Zocalo was jammed with people, and all we wanted to do was to take some photos and get out of that crowd.

The banners on the city hall are in honor of Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, who recently passed away.

Cardénas was the son of Lázaro Cárdenas, President of Mexico between 1934 and 1940.  The son broke away from the ruling political party of PRI, and founded an opposition party, PRD.  He ran for President three times, and quite possibly might have won.  However, in those days, PRI always made sure that they remained in power.

The Aftermath

Here are some political cartoons I found on the internet after the seismic midterm elections...

 

I love this image which is supposedly going to the front cover of an upcoming issue of Time.

Street Art for Day of the Dead

In addition to the "ofrendas", "catrinas", skulls, and other decorations along Francisco Santiago Borraz in Tlahuac, the facades of many of the houses are painted with murals, most of them with a Day of the Dead theme.  We have been going there for several years, and while I recognized some of the street art from previous visits, other murals appeared to be new.

The "xolo" or Mexican hairless dog was believed to be a spirit guide to reach the underworld.

More from Tlahuac

Here are more photos of the Day of the Dead decorations on Francisco Santiago Borraz Street in the district of Tlahuac...

If you are familiar with animated movie "Coco" you will recognize this papier mache skeleton as Hector, one of the movie's main characters.

Also from the movie are Dante, Miguel's dog who is transformed into an "alebrije", and Uncle Oscar and Uncle Felipe.

A skeletal rock band... perhaps, The Ungrateful Dead?? 😃

Players from this summer's World Cup.

Spain (in the center) holds the trophy, while Argentina (right) has collapsed in defeat.

I don't know why Mexico (left) is shown with his foot in a bucket.

A street sweeper wearing the uniform of Mexico City workers.

An "ofrenda" in memory of departed pets

This skeleton appears to be rising up from under the pavement.

The head of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god

A skeleton in heaven, a skeleton in hell, and firefighters to put out the flames

The birth of a skeleton

Alejandro an I posing in papier mache skulls

Taco vendors

Some of the "catrinas" held philosophical messages about death.

"Do not have fear of death; have fear of a life not lived."

"Don't die before your body.

Put life into your days, not just days into your life."