In photos: Dia de los Muertos in the Zocalo
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Preparations for the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations in Mexico are well underway: Mexico City’s Zocalo is awash with variations of the traditional ofrendas built to welcome the returning spirits of the dead on Nov. 2 and 3.
A skeleton grins out of an ofrenda featuring the dead grieving over the dead.
A skeleton leans over to offer a cempazuchil flower. The orange-petaled plant is the flor de muerto and traditional at this time of year.
La Catrina, or Lady Death, stands in front of the Mexico City cathedral.
People spread food such as chicken with mole sauce, bread and salt on the ofrendas to be enjoyed by the spirits of the dead on their return, with a shot of tequila or mezcal to wash it down.
-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City
Images: Day of the Dead in the Zocalo. Credit: Deborah Bonello / Los Angeles Times