MEDIA RELEASE

‘Day of the Dead’ Celebrated in Wellington

28 October 2011

The Embassy of Mexico has joined forces with the Museum of City and Sea to bring a little bit of Mexico’s legendary ‘Día de los Muertos’ celebrations to New Zealand.

A Mexican-style altar will be erected at the Museum at which visitors can leave photos, poems or personal items to honour their deceased loved ones and ancestors. This will be available from Saturday 29 October to Monday 7 November, 10am-5pm.

For those interested in how the concept of death has become so intricately entwined with the Mexican culture, Claudia Arozqueta, Curator of Enjoy Public Art Gallery, will give a talk on Wednesday 2 November at 2pm. Margaritas and Mexican hot bread will be served.

For more information see: http://www.museumofwellington.co.nz/museum-of-wellington-city-and-sea/what-s-on/.
ENDS

Notes

The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on the 1st and 2nd of November.

Colourful altars are built using sugar skulls, marigolds, food, beverages and other items. Family and friends gather around the altars and at cemeteries to pray and remember the deceased.

Marionettes are also created and skulls and skeletons feature prominently in the imagery associated with this day.

The aim of all this is to encourage the souls of those who have passed to revisit the land of the living and hear the prayers of their loved ones.

For more information see: http://www.dayofthedead.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

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