Dia De Muertos

When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in Mexico More than 500 years ago,
they encountered natives practicing a ritual which they felt mocked death.
The indigenous people had been practicing this ritual for  3,000 years,. A
ritual known today as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a ritual the
Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate,   the Spaniards viewed
death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life,
they embraced death and did not fear it.  To them, life was a dream and only
in death did they become truly awake. the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual
and tried to convert them to Catholicism.   The  Aztec spirits however
refused to let the ritual die, originally it was held in the month of
August but to make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it
coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is
when it is celebrated today.

It is believed that November 1 is when the children spirits visit their
loved ones and November 2nd is when the adults come to visit.  On
these days families visit the graves of the deceased which are adorned with
flowers and the ambience of candles, they celebrate by eating, drinking,
playing music and dancing by their loved ones graves.  This can seem strange
to visitors who are not used to this kind of ritual, but seeing this live
was a wonderful experience, it was so soothing and beautiful.  My views
about death are very similar to the Aztecs so for me I felt privileged to
experience this unique ritual.  The following are some portraits I took of
locals in the Oaxaca state in the graveyards who were celebrating dia de
muertos the best way they could, I would like to share these images with
you.