Last year (2016) I travelled to Mexico City to experience and photograph the Day of the Dead Festivities. It was my third visit to Mexico City or Distrito Federal (DF) as the locals call it, but the first time for the Day of the Dead celebrations. Day of the Dead, also known as All Souls Day is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America on October 31st, November 1st, and November 2nd. In Spanish, the Day of the Dead is called Día de Muertos, or Día de los Muertos. Click through the slideshow below to view the Día de Muertos images taken in Distrito federal:
In 2017 Mexico City held it's first Day of the Dead/Día de Muertos parade. With life imitating art, they took the idea from the Bond movie (Spectre) and created the event. Over 100,000 people attended the event every day with various parades throughout the city. I took the following photos candidly during the Day of the Dead events in and around the streets of Mexico City.
The days leading up to and following the festival are a great opportunity to get some interesting and unusual photos. All across the city there are exhibitions, events, street parties and people in costume. If you plan on going, make sure you book accommodation well in advance. The whole of Mexico City sells out with people travelling from all over Mexico and the World to experience Day of the Dead.
The previous year (2015) I had spent a fascinating day experiencing the Day of the Dead at Cementerio Nueva Esperanza in Lima, Peru. This huge sprawling cemetery is the second largest in the World and on the 1st of November thousands of Peruvians visit to pay respect to their departed. Very much a family affair, the Day of the Dead is a celebration of happiness and remembrance of the deceased as opposed to one of sadness. A day where musicians play music to the dead, traditional Peruvian Dancers (Danza de las tijeras) perform, couples share beer by the graves and children embrace and play. A photo blog about the Day of the Dead in Lima, Peru can be viewed here.
More of my travel photos can be found on my website, my Facebook page and my Flickr account. If you are interested in purchasing any prints, using an image online or would like further information please send me an email at: geraintrowlandphotography@gmail.com.