Día de Muertos Oaxaca 2016

[bjd]

I tried reading it too, Lagatta. Found it higher up:

644 feminicidos de este sexeno (?) en la impunidad. 106 en este a~no. (Sorry, my tilde doesn't work right!)
Maybe sexeno means 6 years?

[Deleted]

We were sitting out of the hubbub of a small local market, but there was no lack of fascinating things to see.



Here is one half of the kitchen where our food was prepared.





And this is the half where the cooking was done.



Other stands sold various refreshments.





Back out on the street in Bixaorellana's neighbourhood.









Many people don't even need to go to the market for various fruits.

[lagatta]

A sexenio does mean a period of six years - (I checked in my Spanish dictionary; obviously there could have been a spelling error or poor penwomanship on the poster) but the specific Mexican meaning (which I didn't know) is the six-year term limit for the Mexican presidency.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexenio_(Mexico)

[bixaorellana]

Thanks for the comments you all and apologies for having originally posted those pictures over in the wrong thread.

Anyway, thanks to Barbara for translating the sign and to LaGatta for clarifying the Mexican use of "sexenio". Kerouac explained that "septenat" was formerly used in France for the seven-year term of a president. Interesting that there is no such specific word in English.

Nov 3, 2016 7:01:28 GMT bjd said:

What are the kids buying in your first photo just above, Bixa? It looks like pieces of dried squash.

In the picture of the woman just below, it's almost overwhelming with her patterned dress, the rows of coloured socks, the food... I really have to concentrate to pick out the details.

That squash-looking stuff is actually agave. The long parts of the leafs are cut off, leaving the plant looking sort of like a squat pineapple. It's then buried in a pit and baked, after which it's crushed to extract the juice which will become mescal. As you see, pieces are also sold as a (fibrous!) snack. It's quite delicious, tasting somewhat like baked sweet potato.

Re: dress, socks, food ~ yes, there can easily be sensory overload in Mexican markets!

[bixaorellana]

Pee ess ~ whilst trying to correct my posting error, I neglected to comment on Kerouac's lovely pictures of my favorite food stand, my market, and my neighborhood. It's really fun and different to see this through someone elses eyes!

[htmb]

Here are a few more photos of our lunch spot, Bixa's local market, and shots of neighboring streets.

[htmb]

[bjd]

So interesting to see where Bixa lives. So different from most of us here on Any Port!

I like the second picture in #35 -- the context out of which Kerouac(?) took the woman with the baby and the old lady with the braid and the flowers.

[bixaorellana]

Bjd, I just saw Htmb's pictures and am dazzled by views of what I already know so well! It does make me feel better, too, as I sometimes wonder if what I post is actually interesting to others. I'm sure we all feel that what's familiar to us is ho-hum, whereas really it is something quite different and interesting to people somewhere else.

[Deleted]

This man was at the market sharpening knives by pedaling on his bicycle.









One thing that Bixa always says that she likes about Oaxaca is that it is surrounded by mountains. Who can blame her?

[tod2]

It has been a stunning photo essay by all three - I have seen Htmb & Bixa's photos but not one of Kerouac's I am hoping they will soon turn from little green squares into the lovely ones everyone is commenting on.

[mossie]

Very colourful, as we have come to expect from Mexico.

[tod2]

At last I can see all the photos!
I was amazed by the size of the restaurant in contrast with the kitchen fascilities.
In all honesty my inner voice was saying Ooh NOooo!.... That kitchen has far too much clutter to be hygenic. But I guess some kitchens in Paris would make my toes curl too.

Lovely views of the surrounding streets.

[lugg]

Thank you to all 3 of you - its fascinating seeing the same thing through the lens of 3 people. So much to take in - I am sure I will have to come back with more questions. For now -- how much is Dia de Muertos still rooted in the tradition of its past - is it still central to it or has it become how Xmas now is for many ?
I of course too really enjoyed seeing more of Bixa's neighbourhood

[bixaorellana]

Thank you so much, lugg , and apologies for the late reply.

I would say that Muertos is still rooted in the original tradition. I'm basing that on having lived outside the city and seeing how older people and those from more rural areas observe the holiday. But I suspect that more and more children and young people are aware of the foundation of the holiday but do not subscribe to the belief that it's a time for welcoming the dead on their yearly visit. On the other hand, I was visiting with a young couple (35-40 yr range) the other day and the wife asked me if I believed or not. She did, but her husband did not.

Somewhere in one of the recent Oaxaca threads someone -- I'm thinking it was you -- asked about the Muertos tradition. I apologize to whomever that was and offer this explanation from an old thread:

Oct 31, 2014 15:42:58 GMT tod2 said:

Hooo boy! What can I say except this thread is exceptional! Bixa you are the bomb!Or should that read BOMBE?
My grandson's are out tonight at a Halloween party.
When taking the maids to town this afternoon I tried to explain Halloween to them.
Please can you put the ritual of 'The Day of The Dead' into three sentences for me?
Maybe I've got it all wrong.

Oct 31, 2014 15:51:22 GMT bixaorellana said:

I'll give it a try, Tod!

This is the time of year in Mexico when people believe the dead come back to visit their loved ones. The dead are welcomed with altars covered with flowers, fruits, food, and even things such as cigarettes and liquor that the dead enjoyed while on earth. This holiday coincides with the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls, so the two traditions have become intertwined.

How's that?

Quotes taken from this thread

[lugg]

No need to apologise Bixa , and thank you for the additional info.

[htmb]

Unless my memory is failing me, this was the last Muertos parade we saw and it took place in the center of Oaxaca.











It was very noisy, and quite colorful, as you can see.

[htmb]

[Deleted]

More stunning pictures! Even though I was there, I am still amazed at so many of the things that we saw. Being an anti-clown (i.e. anti-disguise, anti makeup) person, I was rather surprised that I found so many of the people completely appropriate for the event and appreciated the efforts they had made to enhance the festivities.

[htmb]

Thank goodness for garbage pickup after all the excitement!

[tod2]

So many interesting photos! If you study the crowds long enough it's not hard to imagine being there.
The young boy enterprisingly setting up shop for some pocket money by playing his accordion - mummy sent him off with some take-out just in case it took longer than anticipated
The stained shirt of a wine guzzler - and in the crowd a Beatles Fan.

I am intrigued by the couple dressed up as 'Pin Dolls' ( that voodoo thing). The make -up is very good but whats with the dead bunny and that gold box?...Is that what they buried it in?
And that gorgeous green hair on that man! Ooh so many interesting sights -Thanks Htmb.
)

[bixaorellana]

Yes, Muertos is well over for this year, but I haven't had a chance to finish putting in all my pictures. It's not that my intrepid companions haven't done a bang-up, definitive job of covering everything. No, it's just that I cover Day of the Dead every year so would feel incomplete if I didn't finish up my part of this excellent thread. Thus, I beg everyone's indulgence with these added pictures and hope that some people might be entertained by them.

After visiting the big municipal cemetery on November 1st, we wound in front of Sto. Domingo church, happily surrounded by a rowdy comparsa.
This is what it was like to be in the middle of it ~



We follow the crowd down the steps and onto Alcalá street, which is packed ~

I'm always amazed that costumed people will patiently pose with dozens of strangers one after the other ~





Can't get the ole mojo working?



There was a marquee with all kinds of local products for sale, but it couldn't compete for interest with the party in the street ~



Photo bomb ~

[bixaorellana]

The quick and the dead partying together ~











I believe this is the twin of one of Htmb's pictures. Oh well, great minds, etc.



Romance never dies ~





You're never too grown up to not be alarmed by a really scary costume ~



Speaking of which, this horror terrified all of us. It was easily the ugliest, scariest thing we saw all night ~

[Deleted]

One thing that always amazes with the photos that the others took is all of the people whom you saw who completely escaped my notice. Of course, considering the crowds we went through, that's pretty normal...

[bixaorellana]

Case in point: I had another picture of the Tr*mp creature with much better resolution but couldn't use it. That's because you were right behind him, pointing your camera south, and oblivious of me and my subject.

[bixaorellana]

Continuing our walk towards the main square, through the denizens of darkness ~





A group of tuna musicians arrayed in the spirit of the day ~



Awwwww!





At this point we decided to sit and watch the world go by for a while, so sat on a bench by the taxi stand on Independencia street ~



Refreshed, we plunged into the crowd in front of the cathedral and found ourselves once again in the midst of the same comparsa ~



Finally extricating ourselves from that melee, we run smack into a different comparsa coming from the other direction ~

[bixaorellana]

I'm always amazed at the discomfort people wearing costumes are willing to bear.

Unless these aren't costumes! *gulp*













Oh, the wonder of it all!



~ That's it -- I'm done. ~

[nycgirl]

This has been a marvelous feast for the senses. I especially love the market photos. What's the name of the fluffy red flower? I know it's been said before, but I forgot.

I have to admit, the Muertos make-up creeps me out. I got especially squeamish at the two musicians, one with a flayed face and one with an eyeball-encrusted face. But I agree with Bixa, Trump was the worst.

My absolute favorite is the pretty baby with the veil and her proud mama.

I enjoyed seeing the festivities from your three different perspectives. Bravo, all of you.

[bixaorellana]

You're the best, NYCGirl -- thank you!

The red flower is Celosia, more commonly called cockscomb: www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersandseasons/cockscomb

I'm amazed at how many people now sport movie-quality special effects makeup, and every year there is more and more of it. There are groups in town that try to keep the traditional Muertos figures (the bishop, the bride, the monk, etc.) going, but you can see they are losing ground.

It was so much fun enjoying Muertos this year with two great people and fun & different to do a group thread.