Posts Tagged ‘Mexico’

Day of the Dead Altars (Ofrendas)

Day of the Dead Altars (Ofrendas)

altarsDay of the Dead Altars

 

Day of the Dead is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. The celebrations include festivals, visit to grave sites, and preparing the altars or Ofrendas for lost loved ones. Ofrendas can be set up near graves or where the loved one actually died. They are also set up in the home where people believe the spirits will visit.

In Morelos, Mexico the altar is set up in a bedroom with chairs or a bed for the dead to rest on. The living then sleep on the front porch. This is not done out of fear but they want to make the dead comfortable. The altars filled with flowers, candles and much more. Below is a list of the items you would find.

Day of the Dead Altars

Candles…..one for each dead family member. Lighting the way the for the spirits.

GetFileAttachment-5 copyBeeswax Candles

Skulls made of wood or sugar…..sometimes marked with the names of the dead family member.

tree of life

 

Soap and Small towels….for the dead to wash

 

Water Jug…for drinking

 

Salt….a symbol of life

 

Incense

 

Bread…Pan de Muertos (Bread of the Dead) is a sweet egg bread and is flavored with cinnamon and anise seed (tastes like black licorice). The bread is then glazed with honey or sprinkled with red or pink sugar. The bread will sometimes be shaped like people or animals.

pan de muertoPan de Muerto

Flowers…Marigolds (going back to the Aztecs) are used because they are the symbol of the harvest and they are also know as the flower of the dead. Their bright color and strong smell reminded the Aztecs of the sun. You can see the petals scattered from the graves to the home, like a path for the spirits to follow. These bright flowers are colorful enough for the spirits to see after living in so much darkness.

 

Marigold-Marigolds….flowers of the Dead

Chocolates

 

Pictures of the loved ones that have past

 

Small toys or miscellaneous items the loved ones enjoyed

 

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Catrina …. Flesh and Blood

La Catrina …. Flesh and Blood

 

catrinas

Here in the United States on Halloween you can see ghosts, goblins, princesses and pirates. In Mexico the influence (possibly) of Halloween can be seen in the Day of the Dead celebrations and the many people who bring Jose Guadalupe Posada La Catrina to life.

 

Posada2.CatrinaJose Guadalupe Posada La Catrina

In Mexico’s capital many celebrations of the Day of the Dead can be found. They highlight the color, local food, Mexican folk art and crafts of the city. The traditional La Catrina with the European style hat can be seen walking around the festivals in the flesh.

People use face paint to create in elaborate fashion La Catrina and the human skull. They use white paint as a base and then black is used to represent eye sockets, nose openings and teeth. Then colors and patterns are added like the decorations on the Day of the Dead sugar skulls. The paint can also extend to their bodies too.

 

day-of-the-dea

Costumes are also added to the human version of La Catrina. You can see La Catrina as a bride, Frida Kahlo, or in various forms of Mexican traditional dress. These very real depictions of the La Catrina can be attributed to the Mexican culture views on death.

Death is apart of life and should be embraced. Vibrant colors, flowers, wedding veils add life and warmth to the human skeleton of La Catrina.

 

CATRNA-DISFRAZ

 

Street-Parade-Oaxaca-City-3

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

La Catrina and Icon of the Day of the Dead

Posada2.CatrinaLa Calaveras Catrina by Jose Guadalupe Posada

Jose Guadalupe Posada created the lovely and timeless La Calaveras Catrina (The Catrina Skull) or just La Catrina. Posada was a Mexican revolutionary graphic artist in the late 19th-20th centuries. La Catrina has the European style ornate hat that was popular among the upper classes in the late 19th century. Many of the indigenous women of the time were so influenced by the European styles they started not wearing their traditional clothes and even wore makeup to make their skin look lighter. La Catrina was Posadas reminder to all that regardless of class or stature death equalizes everyone in the end.

 

katrinas chtLa Catrinas made of paper mache at Coast Hwy Traders

 

The La Catrina is made from all kinds of materials including clay, wood, and paper mache (cartoneria). She is a prominent figure in Day of the Dead celebrations. She is featured in Day of the Dead altars, decorations, including large paper mache skeletons imitating the living.

Posada’s La Catrina has become the image of Death in Mexico and icon of the Day of the Dead celebrations.

ss pic skeletonsLa Catrina Statue

katrinas cht 2

weddingWedding Day La Catrina

holiday catrinaThe Coast Hwy Traders Mascot…La Catrina

 skeletons

La Catrinas at Coast Hwy Traders

table at coast

 

 

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

Popotillo Art…..Straw Art

Popotillo Art…Straw Art

 

straw paintings

 

Popotillo (little straw) is the craft of creating colorful images using the thin stalks of various grasses. 

This beautiful craft is labor intensive. An 8×10 image can take 2 or 3 days, depending on the complexity and all the space that must be covered in straw.

The use of the hands, or in the case of very tiny pieces, tweezers to place the bits of colored lines has not changed, but there has been some modernization. Traditionally, the straw or grass is collected, dried and colored either by the crafts person. Originally, vegetable dyes were used and straw colored this way still can be found, but most are now colored using aniline dyes, as the color lasts longer.

The straw pieces are applied on paper, poster board or other surfaces, not by cutting the straw first, but rather applying the straw and snapping it where the artisan wants the line to end. The traditional adhesive is beeswax or Campeche wax, but other glues are sometimes used. After the image is completed, it is usually coated to make it shine. In the past, this was done using egg whites, but today commercial varnish is used.

Popotillo crafts are truly works of art and can be admired and purchased at Coast Hwy Traders.

 

straw art

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

pinterest-logo-2-1074x1067 facebook

The Evil Eye…Mal de Ojo

The Evil Eye or Mal de Ojo

 

Evil_Eye_by_Timosaby

The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury.

Talismans created to protect against the evil eye are also frequently called “evil eyes”

Disks or balls, consisting of concentric blue and white circles (usually, from inside to outside, dark blue, light blue, white, and dark blue) representing an evil eye are common.

The evil eye or ‘Mal de Ojo’ has been deeply embedded in Spanish popular culture. In Mexico and Central America infants are considered at special risk for the evil eye and are often given an amulet bracelet as protection. Typically there is an eye-like spot painted on the amulet.

One traditional cure for the evil eye in rural Mexico involves a curandero (folk healer). The healer sweeps a raw chicken egg over the body of a victim to absorb the power of the person with the evil eye. The egg is later broken into a glass with water and placed under the bed of the patient near the head. Sometimes it is checked immediately because the egg appears as if it has been cooked. When this happens it means that the patient did have Mal De Ojo. Somehow the Mal De Ojo has transferred to the egg and the patient immediately gets well.

In some parts of South America the act of ojear, which could be translated as to give someone the evil eye, is an involuntary act. Someone may ojear babies, animals and inanimate objects just by staring and admiring them. This may produce illness, discomfort or possibly death on babies or animals and failures on inanimate objects like cars or houses. It’s a common belief that since this is an involuntary act made by people with the heavy look, the proper way of protection is by attaching a red ribbon to the animal, baby or object, in order to attract the gaze to the ribbon rather than to the object intended to be protected.

 

eveil eye

purchase your Evil Talisman at Coast Hwy Traders…

 

 

 

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

pinterest-logo-2-1074x1067 facebook

Experience Oaxaca Mexico

Experience Oaxaca Mexico

 

I recently visited Oaxaca, Mexico. From eating crickets to experiencing world class art this trip was a once in a lifetime!

18893267_10154844495159107_2473599177512139000_n

I visited the Oldest church in Oaxaca. It was built in the 16th century. When I was outside at noon, I heard music and was surrounded by Ava Maria. It was so cool because there are not any speakers. It was like it came from the sky!

oldest church

 

Beeswax candle making is a lost art. In Oaxaca it is alive and well. Just Gorgeous!

beeswax candles

 

In Oaxaca they use dried crickets in salad dressings, on top of tostadas, and in guacamole.

They tasted salty!

crickets

 

Oaxaca has large paper mache figures they hang outside their stores.

The paper mache figures are also uses in parades.

oaxaca 2

 

large paper mache

 

parade

 

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

pinterest-logo-2-1074x1067 facebook

Oaxaca Wedding…

Oaxaca Mexico Wedding!

I was recently in Oaxaca, Mexico when I came across a Mexican Wedding procession! It was delightful!

wedding oaxaca

The band leads the bride and groom, family and guests down the street. Everyone would pause in the street to dance and celebrate. The guests carry the saran wrapped gifts on top of their heads! Looks like the Bride and Groom will have plenty of pots and pans and dishes!

Good luck to this beautiful couple!

 

large wedding

 

Watch Wedding Procession Video Below

Oaxaca Wedding

 

 

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

pinterest-logo-2-1074x1067 facebook

History of Cinco de Mayo

Facts about Cinco de Mayo

serapes

Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow, Friday May 5th. Bring on the guacamole, chips, tacos…tequila.  I thought I would share a couple of Cinco de Mayo recipes from La Tortilla Factory.

But, first let me clear up a few facts about Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexico’s Independence. It is actually a celebration of the Mexican army’s victory over France at the 1862 Battle of Puebla.

500 French soldiers died and less than 100 Mexicans were killed. This was a great symbolic victory for Mexico. ( unfortunately the French won the next year and occupied the region for 5 years)

Cinco de Mayo is mainly celebrated in Puebla where the 1862 battle took place. There is a colorful parade and they reenact the war dressed as French and Mexican soldiers before breaking out in song and dance.

The actual celebration for Mexico’s Independence from Spanish colonial government in on September 16th.

Here is just a fun fact…Americans eat 81 million pounds of avocados on Cinco de Mayo!!

Cinco de Mayo Recipe

Have fun creating these amazing recipes….

1130x500-veggie-tostadas

Grilled Vegetable Tostada: Baked corn tortillas are a delicious and healthy way to showcase colorful grilled veggies.
Click here for the printable recipe: http://www.latortillafactory.com/recipe/grilled-vegetable-tostadas-with-guacamole/

 

Fish-Tacos-1130-x-500

Simple Grilled Fish Tacos:
Click here for the printable recipe: http://www.latortillafactory.com/recipe/simple-grilled-fish-tacos/

1130x500-quinoa-quesadillas

Low-carb Option: Quinoa and Roasted Vegetable and Black Bean Quesadilla: Sweet potato, scallions, and red pepper get flash roasted and mixed with quinoa, black beans and a cumin-lime dressing for a healthy, hearty quesadilla filling.

Click here for the printable recipe: http://www.latortillafactory.com/recipe/quinoa/

 

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

pinterest-logo-2-1074x1067 facebook

Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato church

Mexican Pottery, History, Shrimp Ice Cream….Dolores Hidalgo

 

The town of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato is best known as the “cradle” of the Mexican War of Independence. On September 15th, Father Miguel Hidalgo rang the bell to call the people to arms against Spanish rule.

Today, Dolores Hidalgo is one of the largest ceramic producers in the country. The city producers a style of multi-colored glazed pottery.

Dolores Hidalgo products are made of a local mix of black, white and red clays from abundant local deposits. The designs used for the pottery have been passed down thru the generations.

You can find dishes, water dispensers, tiles, table tops, sinks, jars, picture and mirror frames and so much more.

This city is full of beautiful Mexican pottery plus Mexican history and a unique idea cream shop full of unique flavors like Queso, Mexican fruits like mango or how about shrimp?

 

Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato pottery

 

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

pinterest-logo-2-1074x1067 facebook

Flaming Heart Sacred Heart Milagros

new milagros

Flaming Heart Sacred Heart Milagros

Traditionally Milagros are used by people to petition saints for help or protection. In many churches in Mexico , you see statues of the Virgin Mary or other saints. People pin their Milagros or miracle on these saints .

 

milagros 2

Each Milagros is made for a specific purpose so their is a lot of variety. Sometimes you come across an unexpected Milagros like a car.
I think of Milagros as having dual or triple meanings, for example a car could mean you need or want a new car or your car is acting funny and you are praying for it not to break down.

The heart, flaming heart (sacred heart) could be a prayer to find love, announcing love or to heal a defective heart.

Milagros are now put on crosses, hands and Hearts for ornamental use.

Visit Coast Hwy Trader for individual Milagros and Milagros art pieces.

 

 milagros blog 2

Coast Hwy Traders

530 S Coast Hwy 101

Encinitas Ca

760-944-1381

pinterest-logo-2-1074x1067 facebook