I have been wanting to go to the Atlanta History Center's "Day of the Dead", or "Dia de Los Muertos", for years, and just hadn't made it for various reasons. But this year, quite by happenstance, I got to go, and had a splendid time...for hours!
First, let me clarify what Day of the Dead is—as best I can, anyway. No, it's not the Latin Halloween holiday...so many make that erroneous assumption!
Day of the Dead is a holiday in Mexico that's celebrated throughout the country of Mexico, as well as in many other cultures around the world. It's a time when families and friends gather to pray for and remember friends and family who have passed away. It's celebrated with music, dancing, food, and shrines filled with favorite foods and personal items of those being remembered.
This year's celebration of Day of the Dead at the Atlanta History Center was yesterday, Sunday, October 27. And the Atlanta History Center did it up right! There was dancing, food vendors, a market, and the various museums were open (we stopped in a few) and free to the public, as were the gardens and historic homes.
The Grand Overlook—the Atlanta History Center's special events ballroom—was filled with shrines in memory of the dead. And there were trinkets on display and some for sale, as well...many of which were skulls—the most common symbol of Day of the Dead that I've seen.
There was also a face-painting station set up in the food and market area. And it had the longest line! As a matter of fact, when we left for the day, when the houses and museums had closed, there was still a fairly long line at the face-painting station!
This is a holiday that I really like. While you'd think it'd be somber and sad, it's truly not. It's a remembering, as well as a celebration of children and the continuity of life. And it's colorful! It'd be challenging to not have a festive time with such vibrant colors and lively music.
We'd eaten not too long before heading to the Center, but when we saw and smelled the various Latin dishes being cooked right on the spot, we found ourselves in line—the shortest line because we'd mysteriously become ravenously hungry again! Sooooo good!
The festival entertainment was quite varied. The dancers were the first thing we saw, and later we saw a solo vocalist. In keeping with authenticity, none of the announcements from the stage were in English, but I did hear "Atlanta History Center" a number of times.
I can speak conversational Greek, but never did pick up Spanish, although I could understand a bit after two weeks in Argentina.
There were hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of people there...all having a great time, especially the kids with their brightly colored faces.
I mentioned that the museums, gardens and historic houses were open and free to the public. Usually, to tour the Swan House, you have to pick up timed tickets at the main entrance.
Well, on this day, the house was open and they had docents as well as "characters" positioned throughout the house. The lady who greeted us at the Swan House told us about the personalities—who would be sharing information with us about the house—but all I heard was Philip Shutze, who was the architect of the Swan House.
Well, we made a beeline for the second story, where Shutze was regaling his time of (re)designing and building the Swan House. I was impressed. The gentleman spoke in first-person and was incredibly knowledgeable about the house...and I'm one to ask at least one, perhaps two, challenging questions (that I really want to know the answers to, of course). This Shutze was brilliant!
So, Day of the Dead at the Atlanta History Center was great fun and it will remain on my list of things to do on an annual basis—truly that much fun!
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
Day of the Dead is a holiday in Mexico that's celebrated throughout the country of Mexico, as well as in many other cultures around the world. It's a time when families and friends gather to pray for and remember friends and family who have passed away. It's celebrated with music, dancing, food, and shrines filled with favorite foods and personal items of those being remembered.
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
I can speak conversational Greek, but never did pick up Spanish, although I could understand a bit after two weeks in Argentina.
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
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| Day of the Dead, Atlanta History Center |
Well, on this day, the house was open and they had docents as well as "characters" positioned throughout the house. The lady who greeted us at the Swan House told us about the personalities—who would be sharing information with us about the house—but all I heard was Philip Shutze, who was the architect of the Swan House.
Well, we made a beeline for the second story, where Shutze was regaling his time of (re)designing and building the Swan House. I was impressed. The gentleman spoke in first-person and was incredibly knowledgeable about the house...and I'm one to ask at least one, perhaps two, challenging questions (that I really want to know the answers to, of course). This Shutze was brilliant!
So, Day of the Dead at the Atlanta History Center was great fun and it will remain on my list of things to do on an annual basis—truly that much fun!
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