Celebraciòn Día De Los Muertos - Day of the Dead Fiesta

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Wellington Latin America Solidarity Committee invites you to join us for:

Celebraciòn Día De Los Muertos - Day of the Dead Fiesta

Friday 2 November 2012

Day of the Dead Fundraiser Fiesta!

The Day of the Dead Fiesta is back and better than ever! This year, San Francisco will host the celebrations: an evening of performances on the theme of life, death and Zapatismo, from the mellow Mariachi sounds of Carlos Navae to Gyp-Hop-Ruski-Roots Reggae of Bella Cajon followed by the latest Latino offerings from DJ Gonzalez to take us into the night.

All this for $10 on the door, and all proceeds go direct to the Zapatista municipality of La Garrucha in Chiapas.

So bring your friends and join us for a celebration of life, death, and beautiful music!

Friday 2 November 2012

8pm til late at San Francisco Bath House, 171 Cuba Street

La Garrucha & Zapatismo

The Zapatistas are indigenous autonomous communities living in Chiapas, Mexico driven by the principles of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata of land and liberty. They are self-governed communities with their own healthcare, education and justice systems. La Garrucha is one such community for which the Wellington Zapatista Solidarity Committee have been fundraising for since 2006 when member Julie Webb-Pullman lived there as a human rights observer. Thanks to the generous donations of Wellingtonians, we have contributed to funding health clinics, vaccination programs, training traditional health promoters and rural ambulances for these isolated communities which receive no government support.

Dia de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is an annual festival observed throughout Latin America originating in pre Columbian culture which celebrates life by honouring the dead. It's believed that on this day each year the spirits of the dead return to Earth to reconnect with the living, and re-experience the sensory world. Friends and family honour the deceased by celebrating in cemeteries, homes, and public spaces with food, flowers, music, and prayers. Colourful paper cut-outs called papel picado decorate churches and cemeteries. Fancy dress, especially skeletons and other deathly outfits, is the norm.

Ofrendas – or altars – often have a photo of the deceased, and are elaborately-decorated with flowers as well as objects, foods and drinks that the dead prized or enjoyed while they lived. It is believed that displaying their favourite things entices their souls to return to take part in the remembrance celebrations.

The Latin America Solidarity Committee remembers all the indigenous people of the Zapatista movement in Mexico who have perished in their struggle for freedom, democracy and self-determination and the 50,000 people who have died in the so-called war on drugs across Mexico.

Prior to the Fiesta, a traditional ofrenda will be on display at the Paramount Theatre and all are invited to gather there from 3pm for face painting, poetry and dance. A Mariachi will lead the procession to San Francisco Bath House, via Trade Aid in time for the fiesta. Fancy dress is encouraged, as is colourful memorabilia of deceased loved ones.

More information about the Wellington Zapatista Solidarity Group at:www.floweroftheword.wordpress.com

ENDS

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