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of the ofrendas food. Pillows and blankets are left out so the deceased can of the ofrendas food. Pillows and blankets are left out so the deceased can rest after their long journey. Celebrants often wear shells on their clothing, rest after their long journey. Celebrants often wear shells on their clothing, rest after their long journey. Celebrants often wear shells on their clothing, so when they dance, the noise will wake up the dead. so when they dance, the noise will wake up the dead. A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (calavera), which appears A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (calavera), which appears in the form of masks, painted faces and brightly decorated sugar skull in the form of masks, painted faces and brightly decorated sugar skull cookies. The skull image appears through the lens of death embracing cookies. The skull image appears through the lens of death embracing artists such as Oscar Navarro, Francisco Franco and Amandalynn, which artists such as Oscar Navarro, Francisco Franco and Amandalynn, which all stemmed from the master Posada, whose prints of skulls and skeletons all stemmed from the master Posada, whose prints of skulls and skeletons left their mark on Mexican pop culture. The Day of the Dead is a great left their mark on Mexican pop culture. The Day of the Dead is a great left their mark on Mexican pop culture. The Day of the Dead is a great way to remember one of the fine artists who most heavily influenced the way to remember one of the fine artists who most heavily influenced the way to remember one of the fine artists who most heavily influenced the way to remember one of the fine artists who most heavily influenced the way Mexico portrays death. Creating artwork just helps to further that way Mexico portrays death. Creating artwork just helps to further that conversation about it. conversation about it. Frida Kahlo was characterized by self portraits in which she straddled Frida Kahlo was characterized by self portraits in which she straddled the worlds of the living and dead. In a 1951 photograph, the Mexican the worlds of the living and dead. In a 1951 photograph, the Mexican artist is seen reclining in a hospital bed, holding an ornately decorated artist is seen reclining in a hospital bed, holding an ornately decorated sugar skull with her name printed across its forehead. sugar skull with her name printed across its forehead. While Dia de los Muer tos is celebrated in cities including Mexico, While Dia de los Muer tos is celebrated in cities including Mexico, Jamaica, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala and Ecuador, the festival blos- Jamaica, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala and Ecuador, the festival blos- soms also in San Francisco's Mission District where women paint their soms also in San Francisco's Mission District where women paint their faces in a stylized skull motif. Likewise, Old Town San Diego annually faces in a stylized skull motif. Likewise, Old Town San Diego annually hosts a traditional two-day celebration culminating in a candlelight pro- hosts a traditional two-day celebration culminating in a candlelight pro- cession to the historic El Campo Santo Cemeter y, and in the Fruitvale cession to the historic El Campo Santo Cemeter y, and in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, their 22nd annual festival attracts over 60,000 peo- district of Oakland, their 22nd annual festival attracts over 60,000 peo- ple during the last weekend of October. Here, a mix of several Mexican ple during the last weekend of October. Here, a mix of several Mexican traditions come together with Aztec dancers, regional Mexican music traditions come together with Aztec dancers, regional Mexican music and ar tisans to celebrate the day. and ar tisans to celebrate the day. This celebration has captured the attention of collectors everywhere. This celebration has captured the attention of collectors everywhere. This celebration has captured the attention of collectors everywhere. There is a fascination of reclaiming the past while straddling both past There is a fascination of reclaiming the past while straddling both past and present. The sheer spectacle and visuals have produced a giant the- and present. The sheer spectacle and visuals have produced a giant the- atrical stage which lovers of Mexican Folk Ar t find endlessly fascinating atrical stage which lovers of Mexican Folk Ar t find endlessly fascinating atrical stage which lovers of Mexican Folk Ar t find endlessly fascinating for varied reasons. for varied reasons. Marjorie Snow is a published writer and photographer with a vast knowl- Marjorie Snow is a published writer and photographer with a vast knowl- edge of antiques and their histor y. Snow was the owner of Terra Cotta in Las edge of antiques and their histor y. Snow was the owner of Terra Cotta in Las Vegas, an exclusive architectural vintage galler y, which has been featured in Vegas, an exclusive architectural vintage galler y, which has been featured in numerous West Coast magazines. numerous West Coast magazines. Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of loved ones returning from the dead to enjoy sharing food, drink and music with their families. Pictured here is a devil's mask, full-size skeletons and a clay skull from a collector's private stash. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 79