Dia de Los Muertos Fiesta Raises Spirits

There were skeletons in on Saturday, and some held instruments with skinny arms.

It was ’s Dia de Los Muertos Fiesta, and members of the skeleton mariachi band, made of recycled materials, were standing in frozen jubilation.

Dia de Los Muertos is the Mexican Day of the Dead. 

Traditionally, people observe the Day of the Dead by paying tribute to departed family members and ancestors. They pray and build altars to their dead loved ones, where they leave photos, money and sugar skulls.

The holiday blends Catholic and indigenous beliefs. In Mexico, it is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, the same dates as the Catholic All Saints Day and All Souls Day

In Dunedin, the Mariachi calacas, the skeletons, were placed in Pioneer Park Friday, along with representations of famous Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and other skeleton and maskdecorations.

On Saturday, live music played at the park, and people made masks, painted their faces to resemble skulls, decorated sugar skulls and sampled Mexican food. That night, the calacas and other decorations were picked up and marched through downtown in the March of the Skeletons.

The celebration is organized by Tina Marie Avila and Javier Avila, who own Casa Tina and other downtown businesses. Businesses downtown built ofrendas (altars), and guests who visited all of them got a free shot of tequila or sangria.

Participating business in the ofrenda stroll included:

• Ladies Consignment Boutique