Another Market

Last week I wrote about the Jamaica Market with its enormous array of flowers and Day of the Dead decorations.  On Monday I was at Alejandro's house, and his sister wanted to buy some things for her "ofrenda".  After dinner, we all piled into an Uber and went to the Río Blanco Market.  Although not as big as the Jamaica Market, it has a reputation for having a lot of stalls selling Day of the Dead items around the periphery of the market building this time of year.

We walked along one side of the market, and except for some stalls selling Halloween masks and costumes, most of the stands were simply selling the ordinary goods you see in any market.

Finally along the far end of the market there was Day of the Dead merchandise.

I wasn't tempted to buy any of the Day of the Dead tee shirts that are so popular.  I already have large enough collection that I can wear a different one for the entire week leading up to Day of the Dead,

Candied fruits, squash and sweet potatoes are traditional for this time of year.

Alejandro bought one of the small, pumpkin-like squashes.  After we returned to the house, I had a taste.  It was OK, but it was very sweet.

I previously mentioned that the orange pumpkins that we use for jack o' lanterns are a rarity down here, although, due to the growing infiltration of our Halloween customs, they are starting to appear.  What they do have in abundance are these large squashes which are called "calabazas de Castilla" (squashes of Castille).

A colorful conglomeration of Day of the Dead decorations

The traditional candy skulls made of sugar, chocolate or amaranth

Incense burners and incense for the "ofrenda"

Traditionally, for the Day of the Dead they burn copal, a tree resin that has been used ceremonially since pre-Hispanic times.

Candles for the "ofrenda" or for the gravesite guide the souls of the departed

 to the land of the living.

Although nothing compared to the flowery extravaganza of the Jamaica Market, there were some stalls selling that Day of the Dead staple, the marigold.

The only thing that caught Sandra's eye were these orange, "papel picado" banners

 with the image of a "catrina".  She bought several to hang over her "ofrenda".

Although Sandra was disappointed with the selection of merchandise this year, I enjoyed our nocturnal visit to the market.