Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda

 
In San Miguel de Allende, for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), over the week, our group built an altar in Casa Luna, where we were staying. 





























We had such a wonderful, meaningful time, during Dia de los Muertos, we're planning another retreat for October 2013. Email us sanmiguelretreat@gmail.com to be put on the interest list.

Dia de los Muertos ~ in Jane's sketchbook

 detail from Jane's sketchbook 

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

We are so ready for our mixed media retreat in San Miguel de Allende! 

 detail from Jane's sketchbook 

 detail from Jane's sketchbook 

  detail from Jane's sketchbook 

  detail from Jane's sketchbook 

more preparations for our San Miguel de Allende trip

Our trip to San Miguel de Allende is this month! We're so excited to spend Dia de los Muertos with our student/friends and to teach them to create their own Libro de Ofrendas.

Jane LaFazio here, and I'm decorating the goodie bags for our students.
   

I'm using these new Liquitex spray paints and they are terrific!

Halloween in San Miguel de Allende

Halloween in San Miguel de Allende ~ photo by Jan Davis

Jan Davis, is a wonderful photographer and friend of Tesoro del Corazon. She went to San Miguel de Allende with us last year, and created this beautiful book of photos from her experience. 

She wrote to tell us this, about our upcoming trip for Dia de los Muertos:

"You may already know this, but one very fun and sweet thing to do in San Miguel de Allende on Halloween is sit in the jardin and hand out candy to the trick or treaters. The jardin is PACKED with lots of activity, The majority of folks that hand out candy are expats...and the locals bring their children all dressed up with their trick or treat bags. The past three years my brother and I have brought our father down to San Miguel and this is his favorite activity during the day of the dead."

Halloween in San Miguel de Allende ~ photo by Jan Davis

Halloween in San Miguel de Allende ~ photo by Jan Davis

Sugar Skulls

We'll see lots of wonderful calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls) created in all kinds of materials, and sizes in San Miguel de Allende in October!

Dia de los Muertos symbolism

Ensenada Altar by Jane LaFazio ~ 8x10 inches

Dia de los Muertos Altars are a big part of Day of the Dead in San Miguel de Allende, with each item on the altar, filled with significance. Here are a few of the symbols commonly used:

A photo of the deceased (the altar can have multiple pictures and represent more than one ancestor or if there are no photos on an altar it is understood that it is in honor of all your ancestors)

 detail of Ensenada Altar by Jane LaFazio

A bell to signal the location, so the spirits can find their way back to earth

 detail of Ensenada Altar by Jane LaFazio

Marigolds to scent the night (and remind us of the impermanence of life)

 detail of Ensenada Altar by Jane LaFazio

A ladder for the journey back to earth and candles to light the way.
Food for nourishment while on earth

 detail of Ensenada Altar by Jane LaFazio

Aztec dog to guard the altar and coins for spending money while on earth

 detail of Ensenada Altar by Jane LaFazio

Sugar skulls for decoration

and a few more:
Favorite items, hobbies, food or drink that the deceased enjoyed
Incense: it is customary to burn copal incense,which clears the space of any negative energy or bad spirits and helps the dead find their way.
Pan de muertos: a special Day of the Dead Bread
A glass of water: Water is the source of life and represents purity. It quenches the thirst of the spirits.

San Miguel for Dia de los Muertos

This gorgeous photo was taken by Michelle Maczka during Dia de los Muertos in San Miguel de Allende. You'll recognize the Parroquia  in the main town square. We are looking forward to our next art retreat in San Miguel October 2012 during the Dia de los Muertos festivities.