Dia de los Muertos 2025 at Casa Kittling

 I put up my ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos early this year, probably because I'm rattling around in Casa Kittling solo and missing a few special people. However, it just dawned on me that it really doesn't matter when I do things. For example, if I want to have Christmas decorations up year round, there's nothing to stop me, right?  😉

By the way, it just occurred to me that some of you may not be familiar with Dia de los Muertos and what an ofrenda is. Here's what Google says: 

"An ofrenda is a traditional altar or offering set up in homes during Mexico's Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration to honor deceased loved ones. Families create them to welcome the spirits of the dead back to the world of the living for the holiday, decorating them with photos, favorite foods and drinks, candles, and personal belongings to create a welcoming and celebratory space. The ofrenda is intended to welcome the spirits of deceased relatives back to visit their families. It is a place of joyous recollection and celebration, not sorrow, meant to remember the cherished moments shared with the deceased."

I've never been a fan of Halloween. When I was growing up, it seemed to be a time of tricks and not treats. Toilet paper strung everywhere, drive-by rotten tomato throwers, and the like. When I moved to Phoenix, I found Dia de los Muertos much more my style. I love the colors and the meaning of the celebration even though I don't have a traditional ofrenda. (For example, I don't put food on my ofrenda.)

Here are a few photos of my Dia de los Muertos ofrenda.

This table has the family photos.

This table holds some of the Dia de los Muertos items I've collected over the years.

The large photo is of my mother and me. Mom was incredibly camera-shy, but the last time we visited my grandparents/her parents, she insisted on being included in a couple of photos. It's almost as if she knew this would be the last time we'd all be together. The Donald Duck figure is in honor of my dad's (small photo-- the one Mom carried in her wallet) spot-on imitation of the Disney quacker. He liked to sit in the movie theater and give Donald x-rated dialogue during the cartoons.

Top photo: my grandfather. Next one down: my grandmother. Lower left: my aunt and uncle. Lower right: my great-grandparents. The chicken is for my mother (it wouldn't fit on the other stand). She had a long-standing feud with one of my great-grandmother's chickens. The little sewing machine is for my grandmother, who made most of my clothes when I was a child. She even made my prom dress.

I couldn't forget to show my Dia de los Muertos playing cards. Growing up, winter Saturday nights were spent at my grandparents' playing pinochle and canasta.

Denis's digital photo frame that cycles through many photos taken over the years we were together. The Kodak truck is for his work at Kodak. The yellow submarine is for his years as a submariner and also for his love of the Beatles. This photo was taken at the Oath Ceremony when he became an American citizen.

If any of you noticed the knitted runners on the tables, yes, I made them. Like I said at the beginning, I love the bright colors of Dia de los Muertos. They are an immediate sign that this is not a sad time but a time to celebrate.

Celebrating Día de los Muertos at Casa Kittling

Over the years that I've been blogging, I've mentioned that I've never been a fan of Halloween. Where I grew up, it seemed that all that particular day signified was overspending on toilet paper to make a mess of people's property, overdosing on candy, and being pelted with spoiled tomatoes when you went on hayrides. No, thank you!

Once I moved to Phoenix, it took me a few years to really begin learning about the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and my interest was probably triggered by several deaths in the family. If you'd like to learn more about Día de los Muertos, you're welcome to read this article from the History Channel.

I've gone from visiting the Desert Botanical Garden's Offrendas exhibition (none this year due to COVID-19) to making my own offrenda (an altar made in honor of your loved ones). Now that I've got my offrenda up, I feel the need to watch Coco, but I'll share some photos with you first!

My offrenda is the one with the lights. The top of the dresser just shows off some related bits 'n' bobs.

Yes, I knitted the scarf. The lighting is so bright that it's made the colors look washed out.

Here are the bits 'n' bobs from places like Santa Fe. I love my mother's Norman Rockwell plate on the right showing a family tree. (The prim & proper married to pirates and outlaws, etc.)

Here is my offrenda. The large plate hanging on the wall is from Target.

Yes, I knitted this scarf, too. I came to my love of bright colors (and in combinations) late in life, but whenever I use them, I think of my grand-aunt Marguerite, who'd crochet any size doily in eye-wateringly bright colors.

Pets are loved ones, too.

My great-grandmother Katie Brookshier. My grand-uncle and -aunt, Glenn and Mary Ann Brookshier.

You guessed it-- I knitted this scarf, too. The color combinations aren't nearly as bright as Aunt Marguerite's. By the way, you'll get a chance to see her in a bit.

Me with my mother, Glenore Brookshier Cole, and my father, Charles Norman Cole. Donald Duck is for my father who could do a perfect Donald Duck impression.

A celebration calls for music, right?

My grandfather, Earl Brookshier, on his favorite seat for listening to Cubs games on the radio. Me with my grandparents, Irene and Earl Brookshier. By the way, I stitched the needlepoint mats on the tops of each cake stand, too.

In the back, my grandfather, Earl Brookshier, at the age of three standing next to his sister, Marguerite, she of the radioactively-colored crocheted doilies, bless 'er. In front, the 1909 wedding photo of my great-grandparents, Myrtle Tadlock Brown and James Elmer Brown. Whenever I look at that chicken, I hear my mother laugh, but the chicken actually belonged to Mom Brown. I also like how my grandfather seems to be keeping an eye on me on the upper left-- something he did quite well.

If there's a problem with something like this that I walk past several times a day, it's that I can't stop faffing with it. (In US-speak, I could say fussing instead.)  As you can see, I've made some changes from the fourth photo at the beginning of the post.

I found a stash of reprints that my grandmother made in her own little darkroom. I didn't want to go to the expense of buying all sorts of frames for the larger originals, and these reprints were perfect to cut to size for small frames. Here I've added my favorite photo of my great-grandfather, James Elmer Brown, because I think he's so handsome in it-- and I love his smile.

My offrenda looks even better with the candles lit, doesn't it?

Do any of you celebrate Día de los Muertos, or is it pumpkins and witches and bats and ghosties for you? Inquiring minds would love to know!

Dia de los Muertos 2017

If you're one of my long-time blog readers (bless y'all), you'll know that I don't particularly care for Halloween, but I do like the two-day Hispanic celebration of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. However, it is a bit of a misnomer to call it a Hispanic celebration since its origins go back 2,500 to 3,000 years ago-- long before the Spanish came to Mexico.

During these two days, families honor their dead, decorating cemeteries and tombs, bringing their deceased loved ones' favorite foods, drink, music, and mementos to the gravesites. One of the most important traditions is the set up of an altar in memory of the deceased in which the four elements of nature-- water, wind, fire (candles) and earth (flowers) are represented. Marigolds are the traditional flowers used because they are yellow like the sun and represent life and hope. You'll often see butterflies as well since in many cultures they are believed to be the souls of people who have died.

Each year Denis and I like to go to the Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix to see the Offrendas in the Webster Auditorium. Come join us on our walk through the auditorium to see all the colorful altars. The artists' names are beneath each photo, and if you'd like to see any of them in a larger size, all you have to do is click on any one of them and a new window will open so that you may do so.

Marco Albarran--front (db)

Marco Albarran--back (db)

Lucinda Yrene  (db)

Monica Crespo (db)

Ruben Galicia

Ruben Galicia--detail

Erika Soto & Sol Espinoza

Erika Soto & Sol Espinoza--detail

Erika Soto & Sol Espinoza--detail

Patricia Silva

Patricia Silva--detail

Zarco Guerrero

Aztec Smurf

Patrick Murrillo

Rafael Navarro

Edgar Fernandez

Martin Moreno

As you can see by the art, the Spanish/Catholic influence is there, but ancient civilizations like the Aztec are really at the heart of this celebration. Water was the predominant theme this year, and there is usually at least one altar that honors immigrants who have come here to work hard for a better life (Rafael Navarro's).

I never ask you which is your favorite because-- to be quite honest-- I don't think many of you like this art, and if you've gone this far in the post, you're just humoring me. (Thank you.) However, I will tell you which is my favorite: Zarco Guerrero's. It grabbed my attention no matter what part of the auditorium I was in.

Dia de los Muertos 2015 at the Desert Botanical Garden

Several of you folks who've been reading my blog for a long time know that Halloween really isn't my thing. Growing up, Halloween seemed more about tricks than treats, and playing any sort of dress-up left me cold. Well before the age of six, my mother and grandparents realized that taking me out trick or treating wasn't a good idea. (Although I honestly can't remember how I convinced them. It probably wasn't pretty.)

Moving here to Phoenix with its strong Hispanic influences taught me that there was another holiday that was much more my speed: Dia de los Muertos-- Day of the Dead-- which is celebrated throughout Mexico and acknowledged around the world. October 31 through November 2 are days for gatherings of family and friends to remember loved ones who have died. Cemeteries become party central, and altars are built and decorated. This altars-- ofrendas-- have the loved one's favorite food and drink, their photos and mementos. They can be works of art, and either be spiritual, political, or whimsical depending on the loved one and the artist. It is important that those who have died know that they are still remembered, still loved, still a part of their families.

The Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix celebrates Dia de los Muertos every year in many ways. One of them is an Ofrendas Exhibit at the Webster Center next to my favorite restaurant in Phoenix, the Patio Cafe. Denis and I went Thursday, accompanied by a very special friend who is new to the area. Like Denis before her, our friend at first found the art a bit weird and macabre, but one ofrenda helped her to understand, and she actually enjoyed the exhibit.

The following are photos that I took in the Webster Center, unaccompanied by a lot of talk. I found the altars to lack touches of the whimsy and humor that I prefer, but the entire exhibit made a profound impression. I hope you enjoy seeing another way to celebrate this time of year. Left click on any of the photos, and a new window will automatically open so you can view them all in their original sizes.

"Cuatlicue"-- the Earth Mother Goddess by Monica Gisel Crespo

Her cloak of corn husks was stunning, and I loved the peacock feathers in her headdress.

"No Justice No Peace" by Angel Diaz, dedicated to those who have lost their lives in border conflicts between the United States and Mexico.

"Book of Wisdom" by Marco Albarrán, containing images and illustrations which give people the opportunity to explore some of the more obscure stories of the Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

"The Life Process" by Oliverio Balcells, which uses classic ancient Mesoamerican colors to reflect the levels of transformation from the material to the spiritual.

"Raices Familiares" by Patricia Silva. With all its family photographs, this is the ofrenda that opened our friend's eyes to the beauty and meaning of the art of Dia de los Muertos.

Raices Familiares detail

Raices Familiares detail

Raices Familiares detail

Raices Familiares detail

"Tlaxochimaco"-- Great Feast for Small Dead Souls by Cristina Cardenas

"The Messenger" by Martin Moreno

"Olmecalaca" by Zarco Guerrero, which is a testament to the influence and diffusion of the Olmec heritage. Denis and I both liked this particular ofrenda the most.

"Olmecalaca" detail

"Olmecalaca" detail

"The Emergence of Mariposa" by Patrick Murillo

"The Death and Transformation of the Inner Child" by El Vaquero Muerto