Recently I’ve been really intrigued by the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertes, or Day of the Dead on November 1st. First, because it’s a brilliant continuation of Halloween! Second, the amazing colors and traditions offer so much scope for some wonderful craft projects. And finally, but it’s lovely and heart warming, the idea of a time to reconnect with those who’ve passed on. I’m even really looking forward to seeing the film The Book of Life!
This year I finally added to my Burton Halloween movie collection Corpse Bride. One my favorite parts in the film is when the Dead come up to the sombre Land of the Living. While the villagers are screaming in panic at their other worldly visitors, a single boy walks up to a zombie, embracing him after recognizing him as his late Grandfather. The terror at once is a replaced by sheer joy as the villagers are reunited with their departments friends and family members! And that really is what is so heart warming and appealing about this holiday-how it has power over death by taking away the fear of it.
Sorry to go off target there! The point is, anyone would like to celebrate this holiday. And this book provided some great insight in the festival and its traditions, from the calaveras (skeletons) and ofredas (an altar dedicated to a lost loved one.), giving the projects a little more significance.
True, I was a little disappointed that most of the projects centre around making calaveras, which are a big part of the holiday. And I was disappointed not to find anything on papel pivadoes, or the paper streamers. But the projects range over many things, from a sugar skull recipe I’m revved to try, to building a basic ofredas.
Final Score: 5/5 (a perfect balance between a fun teaching of Hispanic culture to some great craft projects)
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