Dia de los Muertos aka Day of the Dead Festival

Dia de los Muertos is a celebration for the dead held once a year in the

midst of life. Birmingham's annual Day of the Dead Festival is very much a celebration of life and a joyful and beautiful event where we pay homage and respects to our dearly departed by celebrating their lives with music, dance, art, food, spirits, laughter, joy and tears...it is a blessed and sacred day of REMEMBRANCE.

Festival Patrons are invited to create alters of remembrance for their dearly departed.
The alters are lavish, eclectic and "folksy".
It really is a work of art in homage to loved ones.
Their life, played out through art of various forms....

Here my friends Zinnia (Princess Warrior) and Sweet Melissa are looking at the alters.
Melissa and I both got into the spirit by painting our faces in the traditional paint of day of the dead.
Think Happy Skeletons. You will see many people with painted faces at the festival...

This lovely lady is standing in front of the alter she created for her loved ones...

Beautiful.
Love her feather lashes!

Our loved ones being remembered can also include pets...

Melissa is taking it all in....

This kind gentleman was a photographer, who wanted to take our photograph!

There were lots of pretty painted people to photograph...

The sun sets....

And the festival takes on a whole new "life" if you will.

Traditional Latin food is available at the festival, just as it is in Mexico. But at the festival we attended, the classic American standards are also available. Zinnia and Melissa enjoyed some authentic tamales..

Pork and Chicken. The pork received four thumbs up.

Spirits enjoyed spirits.... And in my case an ice cold sprite. :) In a Kenny Chesney cup no less.

The cups were extras from a concert. However I like to think that my loved ones were treating me to a lil something special. I mean, coincidental?

I think not.


There were firepits throughout the festival to warm bones.

Butterflys are used alot throughout the festival, for their significance to living one life before going to sleep for a while, renewing a body then awaking to a newly restored life.

The remembrance moves into traditional dancing...

These young girls were balancing actual firelit candles atop their heads as they danced.

After the dancing is a Roll Call celebration,  where a departed loved one’s name  to the memorial roll call. A representative it is asked you try to be present to answer “here” or “present” on their behalf when the roll is read at approximately 6:55pm.

Following the roll is the Muertos Dixieland Jazz Procession...This year I added the names of friends and family who have passed on. It was nice to hear their names read aloud in the celebration to honor their life. I think as often as we speak of them, say their names, they continue to be a part of our lives.

Following the roll call, the Jazz Funeral Procession...

I love this shot of the festival!
Can you guess why?

 

If you ever have a chance to go to a Dia de los Muertos, I suggest you go. Its a wonderful family event!

(Click on any pictures to make larger. Please do not photo share without permission)

Boom Days

On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending Ft. Payne's Boom Day Festival for the second time. I love going! I have family in the area, and we use it as a time to meet up, enjoy one another company, dance...sing along...and do some toe tapping to some great music.

The Boom Days Heritage Celebration, Fort Payne’s annual art and music festival, displays citizens of Fort Payne taking a second look at their past and the heritage passed down to them through the arts and crafts of our area. It features dozens of the South’s finest visual artists and traditional craftsmen, as well as dozens of the area’s most talented musical groups.

Four blocks of the city’s downtown district are closed to traffic while art shows occupy Alabama Park and City Park, and a variety of music flows from four outdoor stages. Downtown merchants operate sidewalk sales, and cultural and historical displays are mounted at the Fort Payne Culture & Heritage Center and the Depot Museum.

What I lacked in mentioning about the Boom Days Festival...
Its a prime place to people watch!
It's a favorite sport. I come by it honest....inherited.

It's also a great opportunity for some great photo ops, which I hope you might enjoy in my post.

Mother badly wanted this bus. She loved the name of the band, and thought it'd make a great family bus for car trips. Call us the Partridge Family....

Lucky for me, my cousin Marc is a gifted musician and was playing in the festival this year with his bandmate, Jerry Bloom:

I was lucky enough to have a "backstage pass" made for me by my cousin Marc's daughter...

It's all in who you know, people. :0

Now, allow me to introduce you to my adorable and talented cousin, Marc....

He and Jerry are: "Jerry B and Marc with a C"....

Did I mention he is single?

Yeah, yeah...all the single ladies....

He loves me so.
I'm certain even more so now.

But let's not forget his other partner...

Not sure about a package deal. LOL

Aside from my cousin, there  was other talent  and happenings about town...

This young lady followed Marc and Jerry. She was half of another talented duo. They sounded great!

Come on, lets take a look around town...

My friends from Rock Candy Band were also playing.
You might recall the affinity I have for Rock Candy from earlier post.

I guarantee Rock Candy will have you up and dancing.
They have an energy that is contagious!!!!

Family of the Neville Brothers were there, not only to contribute to the music...but to take it in.
This is Aaron's nephew:

This is my mother's nephew (pictured with me and my mom)

We had such a great time.

There was a car show. My mom and uncle love to reminisce about cars and "the olden days".

Their brother had one like that one (above).
Memories.
In my dreams, this is what I drive..

Ft. Payne is the home of the country group, Alabama..

And big black poodles.

And cool motorcycles.

:)

There were alot of folks to see!

Last year I became familiar with multi-talented artist, Fleetwood Covington.
Fleetwood's medium is paints on reclaimed barn tin.
And he paints something close to my heart....things of the south, and scenes from music of the south.
Its something that touches my heart.
His too.
He also plays the music. Blues.
I can appreciate some blues.
So can Fleetwood, and he does it well....

I purchased a beautiful painting from this artist, who designed the official poster of Boom Days.

Also, in Ft Payne...right in the heart of Boom Days...

Hammer Time!
(Can't touch this...)

After I loaded up on deals, I took the long way home.
Country Roads, take me home.
To the place I belong...

Hope your weekend was just as fabulous!