Day of the Dead Exhibit 2006
The Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) is a national celebration in Mexico where families commemorate the lives of close loved ones who have past away. The original celebration can be traced to many Mesoamerican native traditions, such as the festivities held during the Aztec month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually presided by the "Lady of the Dead" (Mictecacihuatl.) The actual day and method of observance is a combination of this ancient Aztec tradition of honoring the memory of their dead and Catholic tradition of celebrating All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2. Plans for this festival are make throughout the year but most of the activity takes place during the period from October 31 to November 2. During this time families usually clean and decorate the graves of their love ones. Often wealthier families build altars in their homes to commemorate the lives of those who have past away. These altars may include photographs of dead, trinkets, pieces of clothing, candles or other objects that the individual was associated with before they died. The altars may also include their favorite food and drink along with special candies, bread (pan de muerto) and beverages such as atole. At times a family would purchase a Retablo, a small votive painting, for display within the altar. Many times families will hold gatherings of extended family members on the Day of the Dead. Making large meals that include some of the favorite dishes of those who have past away the families reminisce and share their memories of their dead relatives while enjoying the feast. The essence of this ritual is to lovingly and happily remember the dead relatives, their life, and in this way, give meaning and continuity to human existence. The Day of the Dead is a wonderful celebration of life. -- David Wood, Galley Director |
RETABLOS are small religious paintings on tin, zinc, wood or copper which are used to venerate a multiplicity of Catholic saints. In Spanish, "retablo" (better known as "lamina" in old Mexico) means "behind the altar." These paintings of the patron saints began as oil paintings hanging in churches and cathedrals throughout Europe. In the New World, retablo images helped in the conversion of the Indians to Catholicism. The church encouraged the creation of mass produced retablos so that these images of saints, or retablo santos, could be hung in the homes of the believers. Many times they were included in the altars used during the celebration of the Day of the Dead. In time another form of retablo began to be created by individuals who wanted to make a public testimony of the believer’s gratitude concerning a specific event. These retablos ex-voto "from or out of a vow" are narrative devotional paintings that offer thanks to a particular saint for the saint’s intercession or rescue of the individual from a dire situation. Most of the student retablo ex-voto images exhibited here give homage to the tradition of retablo in the form of the creator’s gratitude for general concepts, things or people rather than rescue through divine intercession. |
