Day of the dead - Dia de los Muertos 2011 - San Francisco
Dia de los Muertos is celebrated mostly in Mexico to honor the souls of the departed and as a ritual to mock death. The people from which this ritual started viewed death as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake.
In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.
In San Francisco, it is celebrated with a procession in the mission district with most people dressed up and face painted [The most common design for Dia de los Muertos (day of the dead), is to paint the face to resemble a skull. The skull has a uniquely positive meaning in Dia de los Muertos, very different from the skeletons and ghosts of Halloween.] and make altars to honor the people that they lost in their lifes.
