A Trip to Jamaica

The Jamaica Market is my favorite market in Mexico City.  It is worth a visit any time of year, but it is especially fascinating during the weeks leading up to Day of the Dead.  I always try to make a trip there this time of year.  So, although I have written about it many times here on the blog, here is another look at the Jamaica Market.

It's not located in the greatest of neighborhoods, but Line 9 of the subway takes you right to the entrance to the market.

The enormous building sells all the things you would expect in any public market in Mexico... fruits, vegetables, meats, clothing, household goods, etc., etc.

But the market's fame and uniqueness stems from the fact that there are more than 1,000 stalls selling flowers and plants.  It is a flower-lover's paradise.

Of course, this time of year, there are thousands upon thousands of marigolds... or "cempasuchiles", as they are known in Mexico.

The "terciopelo" flower ("velvet" in Spanish) is a variety of celosia and, because of its blood red color, is also associated with the Day of the Dead.

The Jamaica Market is probably the best place in the city to buy decorations for the Day of the Dead.

In addition to skulls, there are loads of "catrinas" (and their male counterpart "catrines"), elegantly attired skeletons.  They range from small figurines to larger-than-life figures.

  

In addition to the traditional white sugar skulls, this year more elaborately and colorfully decorated candy skulls seemed to be quite popular.

Many stalls sell "papel picado", intricately cut banners of colored tissue paper which represent the fragility of life.

My intention when I went to the market was to simply enjoy the colorful and festive atmosphere.  However, I ended up buying a piece of pottery... a skull candlestick holder... and carrying it home on the subway.  It is now next to the door to the apartment.