by Caitlin Donohue
Jose Posada’s classic Day of the Dead “Calavera” engraving
The sharpening chill, nights stretching longer past their summer shortness- in autumn the world as we know it begins to draw in upon itself towards winter’s temporary death. In Mexico, this moment is celebrated as Day of the Dead, a time when the lines blur between this world and the next. Families gather together to remember and treasure lost loves and try their best to tempt them back for a visit.
How do they throw down the welcome mat? This is Mexico we’re talking about, so of course their answers are art and fiesta. There are mock altars decorated with colorful tissue paper and skulls made of sugar. Playful calaveras are written, macabre epitaphs that make fun of your still-living friends. Parades and processionals fill the main streets and over at the cemetery, people are setting up tailgating parties on their dead friends’ graves. It’s a time to strut with a smile in front of death and subvert sadness.
Back to you (you like that, don’t you), because this is also San Francisco we’re talking about. Here are two incredible ways to wild on D.O.T.D:
How it went down last year at the SF Symphony’s Day of the Dead concert