Day of the Dead

In Latin America, Day of the Dead is a celebration of the friends and family who have passed away. Entire families go to the cemetery to spend time with their deceased loved ones on November 1st (and sometimes 2nd). They bring picnic lunches, sit down on the tombs, and enjoy the day together. Last year I spent November 1st at a cemetery in Antigua and November 2nd in the cemetery in Santiago Sacatepequez, which is famous for its giant kites. The men of the town work for months building the kites especially for this holiday.

In Mexico, especially, there is a class of art dedicated to Dia de los Muertos: skeletons dressed in bright, colorful, fanciful dress, dancing and carrying on. It is with this theme in mind that I've begun making some Day of the Dead bracelets. The skulls are tiny ceramic beads made in Peru.