La Catrina dances in Sweden

It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.
It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
It is the one who won’t be taken who cannot seem to give.
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live…
Bette Midler

When I read in the paper that there would be a celebration of this holiday called Dia de los Muertos close by I just had to go and see it for myself.

Just look, isn’t this table inspiration per se?

I’ve known about Day of the Dead for a few years now, and I read about it on many cool blogs each year.

This year I experienced it myself at the Ethnographic Museum (Etnografiska museet) in Stockholm. Ethnography is the branch of anthropology that deals with the scientific description of specific human cultures. At the museeum they had put up a colorful table (ofrenda) with sugar skulls, flowers, beautifully cut paper flags and photos. The ofrendas are left out as a welcoming gesture for the deceased, like a offering of food, drinks and decorations for joy.

There were also a band playing Mariachi music, dance performances and a woman dressed up as La Calavera de la Catrin in a long black dress, big hat and a feather fan in her hand that she oh so gracefully was waving. She moved just like a ghost through the audience and I couldn’t take my eyes of her… Hauntingly cool really, and beautiful.

Dancing

La Catrina in flesh…

More of my photos from the Swedish celebration of this Mexican holiday;

I’ve been listening to some Mariachi music since I heard this band. Makes me wanna dance.

The whole ofrenda setup with photos, candles, sugar skulls, paper flags, flowers and offerings.

Painted Skulls.

And yet another photo of La Catrina in Sweden;

I’m posting my Dia de los Muertos celebration photos a month too late, but as the Swedish saying goes: “better later than never”. I will try that approach for now. I wanted to post these photos because they are so colorful and fun, and very unSwedish of course…