Dia de Muertos
Dia de Muertos is a Mexican celebration going back hundreds of years before the Spanish arrived in Mexico. It was originally practiced by the Aztecs and other tribes of southern Mexico who welcomed back the spirits of their ancestors every year at the beginning of Summer. With the arrival of the Spanish and Catholicism this ancient tradition became associated with All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November 1st and 2nd. Over time this celebration has spread throughout Mexico and Latin America, and many other countries including the U.S. The following video published by the British Museum does a very good job of explaining the celebration. Rich and colorful cultural traditions such as the Day of the Dead provide lots of opportunities for photographers. Although it revolves around the remembrance of dead family members, it is a celebration of life and not a sad or solemn occasion so taking photographs is perfectly OK. As I mentioned earlier, this fest...