¡día de los muertos!

día de los muertos (the day of the dead) is a celebration that happens the day after halloween in many latin cultures.. it originated in mexico, but many cultures have adapted it in some way and celebrate it differently.. the original holiday was focused on family gatherings to honor those who had died through prayers, grave visits, and altars built using artificial skulls and filled with the departed's favorite foods..

el salvador does it a bit differently.. honestly, i think the only thing in common is the name haha.. we went to this little town up in the hills called tonacatepeque, the hometown of our national directors wife luchy.. we ate dinner at her sisters little restaurant as we waited for the festivities to begin.. we really had no idea what to expect; all we had heard is that its typically a little creepy..

well here are a couple pictures, you can judge for yourself.. a lot of folklore and history are the foundations for most of what you see in these pictures.. for example, there are stories handed down through generations of a headless priest who roams the streets after midnight, stealing the souls of children who are out too late.. there are also monsters and demons who are said to do the same thing.. im not sure where the wagon comes in to the picture, but i think its something equally creepy..
this whole experience was a lot of fun! there were tons and tons of people crowded on the streets watching the parade, there was a costume contest, and an annual tradition of gathering in the town square for pumpkin chutney (very interesting flavor..)