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Post by bjd on Nov 11, 2012 7:38:12 GMT
So much colour! It just leaps out from the screen.
But I am a party pooper and admit I prefer the market pictures to those of the costumed and made-up kids. Is it an impression, or do they like to stop and pose when they see someone with a camera? (I understand that is what happens at the Venice Carnival.)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2012 16:52:34 GMT
My impression is that costumed people love to pose for photos. Abstractly, I can appreciate all of these costumes because I am seeing them on a computer screen and am safely at home. In real life, everybody knows that costumes = clowns = But keep posting this stuff, Bixa -- it is wonderful!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2012 17:33:37 GMT
My impression is that costumed people love to pose for photos. Abstractly, I can appreciate all of these costumes because I am seeing them on a computer screen and am safely at home. In real life, everybody knows that costumes = clowns = But keep posting this stuff, Bixa -- it is wonderful! If this isn't evident by all the Mardi Gras, midsummer or otherwise, pics I've posted than I have no idea what to say.... There is something about donning a mask and costume that brings out the uninhibited/exhibitionist in one that's difficult to explain...( and for the record, I loathe clowns.....)Fabulous, fabulous pics Bixa,you've outdone yourself!!! Love it!!! Thank you!!
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Post by htmb on Nov 11, 2012 17:37:22 GMT
Yes, do keep posting! I loved seeing all of the colorful flowers, and I think you capture the faces of the people in the flower market well. In fact, your portrait photos always seem to capture a bit of the individual personality of each person. Have you lived in this area long, bixa? I also wonder if a lot of these people know you. Many seem so receptive to being photographed.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2012 17:43:53 GMT
I really think it's the phenomena of being costumed HTMB although, I wouldn't doubt that Bixa knows alot of these folks.
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Post by htmb on Nov 11, 2012 18:38:28 GMT
I don't just see it in the photos of costumed people, but also in the every day photos of folks going about their work and play. People seem to relate well to bixa and her camera.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 11, 2012 20:49:59 GMT
Thanks for all the great comments! I prefer the market pictures to those of the costumed and made-up kids. Is it an impression, or do they like to stop and pose when they see someone with a camera? No, they were posing their cute little hearts out. After all, the event was pretty much about showing off their costumes. I do like to catch costumed people unawares, especially when they've forgotten that they're in costume & are just being themselves. Abstractly, I can appreciate all of these costumes because I am seeing them on a computer screen and am safely at home. I knew that your family moved from the Mississippi coast fairly near New Orleans to California. Now I'm wondering if they weren't taking poor little Kerouac as far away from masqueing activity as it was possible to get. There is something about donning a mask and costume that brings out the uninhibited/exhibitionist in one Right you are, & ain't it great?! Have you lived in this area long, bixa? I also wonder if a lot of these people know you. Many seem so receptive to being photographed. Htmb, I've lived here for fifteen years. Except when I'm trying to sneack pictures, I try to interact with the subjects. If they're laughing & talking, they're less likely to have frozen smiles or stiff posture. I don't know anyone in any of the photos I've posted so far. HUGE thanks for your last comment, which has me smiling furiously and my head swelling besides.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 11, 2012 21:22:17 GMT
Here we are in front of the Santo Tomás church in Xochimilco. Xochimilco is now incorporated into Oaxaca, but it was once a separate town & is still a settlement of weavers.
The church is locked up, but nicely decorated ~The very large churchyard is being used for an altar contest & exhibition ~ A beautifully rustic and sincere homage to the altars for the dead made by pre-colonial people. The sign says that the ancestors honored the dead, then lists how (songs, fire, etc.) and with what (corn, beans, and "food of that time, such as chicomotle (?) made with wild meat). "They put a dog made of sweets or of clay with a cord. When the soul went on its peregrination and on passing the River Granal (?) was frightened, the soul was helped by the dog. The story of the pre-hispanic epoch is long." This churchyard is the site of the Pochote market on Fridays & Saturdays, thus the name below the altar.The pathway of marigold petals is to help the dead find their way back home ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 11, 2012 21:32:22 GMT
This says, in Zapotec, "In the cornfield" ~
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 14:35:20 GMT
Spectacular pics!! I will have to scope out the videos later. It struck me how similar in so many ways these altars resemble the St. Joseph Day altars here although, admittedly not as vibrant. Thanks for these Bixa!
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Post by mich64 on Nov 12, 2012 19:25:41 GMT
The videos are great Bixa! I enjoyed the music and the parade of characters. I am always amazed at the attention to detail in the alter presentations, there is such love and respect for those who have passed. Fantastic report Bixa!
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Post by mossie on Nov 12, 2012 19:28:08 GMT
There has been a fantastic amount of work put into those altars.
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Post by bjd on Nov 12, 2012 19:52:04 GMT
Are the photographs on the altars of people who have died recently (within the last year, since the latest Day of the Dead) or are they people someone in particular wants to remember more openly?
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 12, 2012 20:16:07 GMT
Thanks to all of you for the encouraging & kind words! Casimira, now that you've said it, it seems so obvious to me. I'm enormously embarrassed that I never saw it before. Since the St. Joseph's day celebrations as we know them are essentially pre-Christian, the similarities become even more striking. ( For those of you wondering what we're talking about, go here. Ironically, Hwimpp was the last person to have posted in that thread.) Bjd, the latter -- any deceased person you want to honor. There was an altar at the big Oaxaca cemetery to Pope John Paul II, for instance. Don't worry ~~ you'll get to see that in addition to tons more other stuff. I'm dragging y'all through every instant of my activities this year.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2012 7:13:46 GMT
I myself was thinking of the similarity to a lot of Buddhist shrines, and not only because of the colour scheme.
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Post by bjd on Nov 13, 2012 8:06:58 GMT
Marigolds are also used in Hindu weddings if an Indian movie I saw (Monsoon Wedding?) is anything to go by.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2012 13:22:32 GMT
I watched the videos, fantastic (until, Snoop Doggy Dog somehow made an appearance at the end of one...my screw up I'm sure)!!
The flowers are indeed outrageous. I remember when I was there how blown away I was by the abundance of them, and, that's an understatement.... Bundles and bundles and bundles of them. I'm curious as to where they are all grown. I'm thinking further outside the city in the countryside and then trucked in makes the most sense. I don't know if the marigolds are necessarily inherently symbolic or they just happen to be what's in season? Then, over time have come to symbolize the holiday?
This is a fabulous report Bixa, you've really outdone yourself this time with all the super gorgeous pics and then the videos. Thank you.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 13, 2012 18:12:09 GMT
Keep the comments coming, please, as they really enhance the thread by bringing up interesting points. It says something about human beings that cultures completely removed from each other have such similar versions of honoring the dead. I believe China also has or had a belief that the dead came back to visit -- I'm pretty sure I read that it was roughly the same time of year as the Mexican visits by the deceased. The celebration and altars here are not only symbolic, it's a real belief is that the dead are arriving on schedule. Marigolds are a new world flower. In fact, I believe it was Senator Everett Dirksen of the US who pushed for the marigold to be the official US flower. (The rose won out. Yawn.) I should say Tagetes instead of marigold, as the word marigold was imported from England, where it designates Calendula, and given to the new world flower. However, for purposes of this thread, I'll stick to marigold for Tagetes. I imagine that the old world countries that use marigolds in abundance were using some kind of yellow or gold flowers before, then glommed onto the marigolds because of their ease of culture. Casimira, re: symbolism/what's in season ~~ it might be a little of both. Certainly the wild marigolds put on a big show this time of year, which must have been even more impressive back before so much paving, settlement, etc. I don't know where all the flowers come from. As you say, so many plus the rest of the country is using them for Days of the Dead as well. There are fields and patches given over to them all over the place. On page one of both my previous Dead threads you can see fields covered with marigolds. Over where I walk my dogs there was a small field completely planted to purple cockscomb. It might at best stock one single market flower stand this time of year! I looked it up, so here's a little information with links to more fascinating stuff. ("the nard" in the article = tuberose)And thank you for the super compliments! Let's keep going, as remember, it's still only October 31. Also remember that those altars shown above are in a churchyard. Let's go see the adjacent cemetery ~Not many decorated graves here yet.As soon as I saw these crammed together crosses, I though of the burial discussion here. I count six.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2012 19:02:59 GMT
What are those angels doing exactly? Sprinkling fairy dust or dropping worms on the graves?
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 14, 2012 4:58:08 GMT
We have now accomplished 2/3 of our objectives for today (it's still October 31st) -- the Abastos market & the Xochimilco altar display.
It's time to head into town to see what we can see.
Crossing the periferico & starting down the pedestrian street to the main square, we run into these two fatal beautiesIt turns out they're on they're way to the party at a primary school, where festivities have spilled out onto the street.
Let's invite ourselves to the party!There are altars set up and all kinds of spooky creatures around ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 14, 2012 4:59:17 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 14, 2012 5:02:06 GMT
I have to go process some more pictures. Told you this would be a long thread!
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 14, 2012 6:45:35 GMT
So here we go with the last post for October 31 ~~ but hardly the last post for this year's Dead thread!
Leaving the kiddy party, we continue down the pedestrian street ~~And a quick zip through the zócalo to catch my car home & rest up for tomorrow, November 1 -- All Saints Day.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2012 6:59:13 GMT
I love the little zombie nurse! So cute and deadly.
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Post by mossie on Nov 14, 2012 8:27:51 GMT
A great day for the kids
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Post by tod2 on Nov 14, 2012 11:01:13 GMT
Yay! At last I can get to see your FANTABULOUS photo-essay Bixa! Been off-line for nigh on 4 days so it's good to be back! I am absolutely blown away by the photos....So much to take in that your report deserves at least 6 separate viewings!! The amount of time and effort - not to mention the expense the Mexicans put into this festival is phenomenal. Keep 'em coming - I hope you're not done yet
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2012 14:08:18 GMT
I looked, actually scoured for tuberoses, and didn't see nary a one...which surprised me because they were in profusion when I was there, and, are likely my favorite flower. Curious that they don't seem to be in evidence in any of these shots unless I missed them....
The last sequence of individual portraits are amazing. I don't know which one I love the most, but, they are stunning. One would think, that with such a single theme (death), so much originality prevails, with so few alike.
Fabulous Bixa!
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 15, 2012 4:25:04 GMT
Thanks ~~ I loved that solemn little nurse girl. Mossie, your remark reminded me of something. Looking at all those kids happily frolicking with depictions of the dead reminded me of this hysterically funny piece posted by Don Cuevas last year. Tod ~~ fine praise indeed coming from such a masterful thread maker. Thanks! Believe me, there are many, many more pictures, probably way more than any sane person would post. Luckily I'm not hampered by sanity. Casimira, the tuberoses are in abundance much earlier, in the Spring. I don't doubt you saw many, but it was probably in the inside downtown market, which gets flowers from all over. The ones in the Abastos are probably from nearby, so seasonal to this region. Thanks for the great compliments. Hope you all will stay with me, as there is more to show. Now, in thread time, it's November 1st, All Saints Day.
We're meeting in Jalatlaco at @4:30, hoping to take advantage of the last light of the day.There's nothing going on right now, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to see.
This building is catty-corner from the church ~~
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Post by htmb on Nov 15, 2012 4:39:57 GMT
That's some very incredible art on the building. Was it done just for the festival?
I also loved the portraits in the last section. Great shots!
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 15, 2012 4:47:02 GMT
The light is so gorgeous right now & the sky so dramatic, that we wind up lingering, hoping to capture the ambience digitally.
Crossing back over to the church ~There's a little pretend cemetery beneath the tree.
The tragedy of microcephaly!Zooming in on the domes of Santo Domingo in the distance ~Time to wend our way out of this lovely neighborhood.
On to the Panteón General, Oaxaca's municipal cemetery.
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