San Felipe Residents Commemorate
Dia de Muertos

Although the local tourist board heavily promoted the annual Shrimp Festival, less than a kilometer away, thousands of San Felipians flocked to the cemetery located behind the electric power plant early that day (November 2), to observe a less-publicized event--known throughout Mexico as --"The Day of the Dead."

The celebration is as old as Mexico itself. Throughout the years, the "Dia de Muertos" was observed with celebrations that were made colorful by the offerings of flowers, earthen pots of food, toys, and gifts along with the burning of candles and incense. Bakeries featured cookies made in the shapes of skeletons and skulls.

Changing attitudes in communities created a variance of the practices. Here in San Felipe, the local cemetery was teeming with local residents decorating the graves, visiting with friends and neighbors, picnicking and honoring the memories of their departed loved ones.

Vendors were selling live and artificial floral pieces to decorate the graves and mausoleums of the dearly departed, along with vendors selling tamales and soft drinks. A group of musicians performed at various grave sites, playing appropriate funeral musical compositions.

In my opinion, tourists, visitors, and residents from north of the border would do well to mark November 2, as a day to witness a very colorful and meaningful observance.

Submitted by John Wozny