Día de los Muertos - Day of the Dead- What is it? Día de los Muertos is a traditional Mexican and Latin American holiday held November 1st and 2nd, associated with the Catholic holiday of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. The holiday combines indigenous Aztec ritual and Catholicism. It is a lively and colorful holiday celebrating life and death. El Día de los Muertos is not the Mexican version of Halloween as many consider it. It does share some similarities, among those costumes and parades; however, on Día de los Muertos it is believed that the border between the spirit world and the real-world dissolves. During this brief period, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living to celebrate with loved ones. In turn, the family members treat the deceased as honored guests and bring along everything their loved one loved. Día de los Muertos Symbols Día de los Muertos is a day filled with symbols. Everything from the altar, to the ofrendas, the marigolds, and the alebrijes. But, out of the many symbols used during Día de los Muertos, the most popular by far are calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls). Significance of Calacas & Calaveras Calacas and Calaveras are a fun, whimsical way to portray life after death. Sugar skulls many times are labeled with the loved ones names, which represents the departed soul, and placed on the altar in memory of them. The Celebration Music is an important part of the celebration. Because Día de los Muertos is an homage to loved ones, music is played to keep the occasion light and celebratory. In bigger areas, it is common to see women dressed up in their traditional folk clothing with their faces painted and dancing to folklore music. Mariachi The celebration could not be complete without a Mariachi band! It is very common for Mariachis to congregate in cemeteries during Día de los Muertos and play music for the loved ones who are visiting the gravesites. The favorite songs of the lost loved ones are played in an effort to remember and honor them. How Our Metal Art is Made The Materials & The Preparation Our metal art is made from recycled oil barrels. Laborers remove the ends of the drum and place them inside the remianing cylinder along with scrap paper and dried banana or sugar cane leaves. By igniting it, it removes all the paint and residue. They are left with a blank canvas to work on! The Art Process The artist then takes over, chalking his intended design on the prepared metal. Then, with the use of simple hand tools, he cuts the form, and begins pounding and shaping out intricate decorative patterns. At times, we have also collaborated with our artists in order to bring both of our visions to reality. The End Product It's hard to believe that the oil barrels that we see in the first image have been transformed to the various metal art sculptures that we have in our shop. The amount of work, time, and talent that goes into each item makes them intricately beautiful and unique. Fair Trade & It's Cactus What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade is the most recognized and trusted sustainability label in the world. By defintion, it is an arrangement designed to help producers in growing countries achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships. How does It's Cactus support Fair Trade? We began working in Haiti over 21 years ago with the goal of fighting poverty through art. During this time, we have worked with over 120 artists, cultivating business relationships and friendships, all while being Fair Trade members. Our artists are respected as equal trading partners. Their culture and their craft are valued, honored, and their work is compensated 100% in an equitable manner. How Can You Support Fair Trade Shop Fair Trade Spread the Word Love Your Product? Leave a Review! Join us in our fight against poverty with Haitian metal art!
