"Erudite and charming, Brandes' book provides a welcome antidote to previous studies of Day of the Dead 'morbidity,' segueing seamlessly from the Mexican festivities to Mexican-Americans in California. The book is destined to become a classic in Hispanic studies." --David D. Gilmore, SUNY, Stony Brook "This is a marvelous book. Brandes, a perceptive analyst and delightful writer, mines his years of fieldwork to offer both the telling ethnographic episode and the revealing photograph. Skulls to the Living . . . not only illuminates the fascinating rituals of the Day of the Dead, but offers rich insight into changing and kaleidoscopic Mexican culture as well." --David I. Kertzer, Brown University EACH OCTOBER, as the Day of the Dead draws near, Mexican markets overflow with decorated breads, fanciful paper cutouts, and whimsical toy skulls and skeletons. To honor deceased relatives, Mexicans decorate graves and erect home altars. Drawing on a rich array of historical and ethnographic evidence, this volume reveals the origin and changing character of this celebrated holiday. It explores the emergence of the Day of the Dead as a symbol of Mexican and Mexican-American national identity. Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead poses a serious challenge to the widespread stereotype of the morbid Mexican, unafraid of death, and obsessed with dying. In fact, the Day of the Dead, as shown here, is a powerful affirmation of life and creativity. Beautifully illustrated, this book is essential for anyone interested in Mexican culture, art, and folklore as well as contemporary globalization and identity formation.

The Day of the Dead is the most important annual celebration in Oaxaca, Mexico. Skillfully combining textual information and photographic imagery, this book begins with a discussion of the people of Oaxaca, their way of life, and their way of looking at the world. It then takes the reader through the celebration from the preparations that can begin months in advance through to the private gatherings in homes and finally to the cemetery where the villagers celebrate together -- both the living and the dead. The voices in the book are of those people who have participated in the Day of the Dead for as long as they can remember. There are no ghosts here. Only the souls of loved ones who have gone to the Village of the Dead and who are allowed to return once a year to be with their family. Very readable and beautifully illustrated, this book provides an extensive discussion of the people of Oaxaca, their way of life and their beliefs, which make the Day of the Dead logical and easily comprehensible.

Depicts various aspects of the celebration - including Prehispanic and Spanish Catholic traces on its development as well as folk and popular culture versions - and describes its changing place in contemporary Mexico. This work examines in detail differences in attitudes towards death in Mexico and the United States.

Celebraciones Mexicanas: History, Traditions, and Recipes is the first book to bring the richness and authenticity of the foods of Mexico's main holidays and celebrations to the American home cook. This cultural cookbook offers insight into the traditional Mexican holidays that punctuate Mexican life and provides more than 200 original recipes to add to our Mexican food repertoire. The authors first discuss Mexican eating customs and then cover 25 holidays and festivals throughout the year, from the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Carnaval, Cinco de Mayo, to the Day of the Revolution, with family celebrations for rites of passage, too. Each holiday/festival includes historical background and cultural and food information. The lavishly illustrated book is appropriate for those seeking basic knowledge of Mexican cooking and customs as well as aficionados of Mexican cuisine.

"F. Gonzalez-Crussi has garnered wide critical praise and a passionate readership for his elegant and distinctly personal essay style. Here Dr. Gonzalez-Crussi takes up where his celebrated Notes of an Anatomist left off and ponders human mortality from his unusual perspective - the perspective of, as he puts it, "a corpse handler."" "The Day of the Dead is anything but funeral, however; the author's sensibility and writing style see to that. A visit to an embalmer apropos of a television documentary, for example, gives rise to a spirited discussion of the rather extraordinary "postmortem careers" of John Dillinger and Evita Peron, the latter rendered nearly indestructible by the embalmer's art. In the essay entitled "Of Skulls in a Heap and Soft Parts in Glass Jars," Gonzalez-Crussi visits a hospital in his native Mexico for the singularly vivacious celebration of the Day of the Dead - November 2 - and an exploration of the Mexican Way of Death. But it is in the essay "Lights, Camera, Stillness! Death and the Visual Arts" that the author gives perhaps freest play to his imagination, taking the reader across time, continents, and media to reflect evocatively on the intersection of art and death. That essay is an appropriately breathtaking conclusion to this provocative and entertaining volume."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This encyclopedia is the first comprehensive survey of Hispanic American religiosity, contextualizing the roles of Latino and Latina Americans within U.S. religious culture. Spanning two volumes, Hispanic American Religious Cultures encompasses the full diversity of faiths and spiritual beliefs practiced among Hispanic Americans. It is the first comprehensive work to provide historic contexts for the many religious identities expressed among Hispanic Americans. The entries of this encyclopedia cover a range of spiritual affiliations, including Christian religious expressions, world faiths, and indigenous practices. Coverage includes historical development, current practices, and key individuals, while additional essays look at issues across various traditions. By examining the distinctive Hispanic interpretations of religious traditions, Hispanic American Religious Cultures explores the history of Latino and Latina Americans and the impact of living in the United States on their culture. More than 100 entries on specific religious and spiritual traditions among Hispanic Americans, detailing the historic development of their distinctive Latino/a character Dozens of contributing scholars, each an expert in Hispanic religious traditions

Felipa's beloved grandmother, Abuelita, has died. Felipa misses her terribly and is very sad. Her parents try to comfort Felipa. They tell her that the souls of the dead live on forever. So Felipa decides to find Abuelita's soul. But where is it? She asks her grandmother's donkey, her pig, and her llamas for help. She treks many miles to the highest mountain, but grandmother's soul is nowhere to be found. Then, months later, the entire village is bustling with preparations for the Day of the Dead. Felipa joins in the celebrations honoring loved ones who have died, and in the process finally finds Abuelita's soul. Birte Muller's sweet story captures the essence of this special holiday, which is celebrated throughout Latin America and in parts of the United States. She celebrates the universal spirit of remembrance, where sorrow and loss are coupled with joy as people commemorate and commune with loved ones who have died.

It's the Day of the Dead! It's time to celebrate! In this bilingual book, a young girl is busy helping her family prepare to honor those who have died--especially her grandfather. She misses him very much and is excited for his spirit to visit that night.

A family celebrates Día de Muertos, a holiday for remembering those who have passed. When the monarch butterflies return to her Mexican countryside, Lupita knows that Día de Muertos, "the Day of the Dead," is near. She and her favorite uncle watch the butterflies flutter in the trees. When a butterfly lands on Lupita's hand, her uncle reminds her that she should never hurt a monarch because they are believed to be the souls of the departed. Lupita and her family get ready for theholiday. When the first of November arrives, the family will go to the cemetery to honor the memories of their loved ones. But this year is different--Lupita's uncle cannot join them. Now, Lupita learns the true meaning of the celebration.

Follow two children as they celebrate their ancestors on this vibrant holiday. They offer marigolds, sugar skulls, and special bread, and make delicious foods. By spreading marigold petals, they guide the dead home to join the festivities. Finally, after singing and dancing, it's time for bed. Bob Barner's luscious collages incorporate the traditional symbols of Day of the Dead. His poetic text is both English and Spanish. An author's note provides additional information on the holiday.