Dia de los Muertos #1 - Mission San Luis Rey

[rpcrowe]

I am hoping to photograph four events celebrating El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead). This event (the first of the four) was at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA. It was very commercialized and I was somewhat disappointed...
The yellow Mexican Marigold flowers attract the Monarch Butterflies which migrate to Mexico every year at this time. In Mexican Culture, dating from Aztec times - these butterflies represent the souls of departed loved ones. Therefore, the Marigold flowers have become intertwined with Day of the Dead celebrations.
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In researching the correct name of this celebration, I have found but cannot confirm: "The actual name of the holiday is Día de Muertos. Nowhere in Mexico you will see it called or referred any other way."

Outside of Mexico, people erroneously use "Día de los muertos", the English back translation from its original, "Día de Muertos".
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[Shadowman]

Nice series, when you say commercialized do you mean the politicians using it as an election tool or sale of trinkets?

[rpcrowe]

Nice series, when you say commercialized do you mean the politicians using it as an election tool or sale of trinkets?

Not only sale of trinkets which are essentially part of the celebration...





But the atmosphere was like a county fair with arcades selling everything from clothing to cell phone plans, home improvement options and newspaper subscriptions...







There was a small stage on which performers appeared. I didn't get to shoot much of that, the area in which the audience stood was pockmarked with squirrel holes. I stepped in one six inches deep (right in front of the stage) and fell, dislocating my finger which is now in a cast I was shooting pictures and wasn't expecting a booby trap like that

[Shadowman]

Sorry to here about your accident, I agree that once small celebrations seem to get overshadowed as corporate sponsors get involved and it can often lead to a blandness in authenticity.

[pschlute]

Liking the first one.

[lovelife65]

wonderful series, thanks for sharing