Dia de Muertos

All the buildings in these pictures are tombstones. There is quite a history and much symbolism involved in the Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos but in short it is the few days when souls of the deceased make their way home to visit their families. It is originally an Aztec practice that has mixed with Catholicism and formed what many celebrate today.
As we walked to class this morning the streets were deserted except for a few other foreigners. We found out why when we got out of the taxi and entered the cemetery. Everyone had gathered there to honor and remember those who had passed on. The cemetery was unlike anything we’ve seen. There are sections that resemble the simple tombstones we know but a large section had tombs resembling little houses and some mansion or castle looking fortresses. The streets were crowded and full of vendors selling snacks (like chile-coated peanuts, sardines, fruit, ice cream, cerveza) and bands that had been hired to play at tomb sites. Families were gathered eating snacks and traditional chayote, or pumpkin and lots of cerveza. Decorating the tombs were lots of beautiful flowers, pine needles, candles, water (to quench the thirst of the souls who have journeyed back), and in some cases the favorite food or drink of the deceased. People were celebrating but there were some tears and solemn faces.
Sarah is the girl in the picture with Stephanie. She is from England and is living in the same house as us. She and her friends are studying Spanish for a few weeks and then will travel around Mexico before they go home. She is holding a cup of little fruits soaked in wine (the name sounds like "nancy").