In Spain this is what is considered ghoulish. Revenge of the Las Indigenas-Oaxaca

What a difference a year makes! Last year I was sipping chocolate con leche in the beautiful zocalo of Oaxaca, watching the nightly parades of disfraces and bandas as they made their way through the cobblestone streets. This year, I’ve barely had time from work and my commute to even think about Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. For me, this is my holiday season, the time of the year I celebrate, decorate and look forward to. Unfortunately, the weight and responsibilities of daily life and the rat race have rudely interrupted my commitment to festivity. So this year, it’s about memories and I’ll start with photographs from last year’s celebrations in Mexico. Enjoy!

No orange pumpkins for sale

As tempting as they look, only returning ghosts are allowed to partake in these delicacies

Candied squash

Market in Oaxaca

Mercado in Mexico DF

Shop window in the fancy part of town-Mexico DF

Mercado in Mexico DF

Fruit baskets for the ofrendas

There are tons of these stalls full of decorations, quite a chaotic scene- mercado in Mexico DF

Another scene from the mercado in Mexico DF

Papel picado

More papel picado

Masks are for sale everywhere including the Metro kiosks

Metro workers joining in the holiday spirit

These are some of the coolest homemade decorations! Paper mache heads on sticks illuminated by candles inside. At night they make quite a presence-Oaxaca.

APPO graffiti en Oaxaca

Fake pumpkins and jack o lantern gourds-Texcoco

Not a good photo but these costumes were impressive! -Oaxaca

Student parade in Oaxaca

These stilt walkers were drinking and dancing too! Pretty amazing feat walking uphill on cobblestone streets.

Tomorrow, altares!