Photos of my daughter and me at Dia de los Muertos 2007, Centro Mayapan, El Paso, Texas

While finishing a delicious bowl of Sopa Azteca the other day at Café Mayapán, I ran in to Arturo and Vallarie Enriquez of Vantage Point Studios. Art reminded me that he had taken a few photos of my daughter and me at last year's Dia de los Muertos celebration at Centro Mayapan, and sent them to me a few days later. Thanks to Vantage Point for allowing me to share the photos!

Give Vantage Point Studios a visit! They're one of El Paso's finest!

Centro Mayapan Dia de los Muertos 2008 poster - El Paso

Here is the poster for Centro Mayapan's Dia de los Muertos 2008 celebration here in El Paso!

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's Dia de los Muertos perfume oil

A Dia de los Muertos fragrance? Yes at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab.

"A joyous celebration of La Catrina, La Flaca, La Muerte... Glorious, Beautiful Death. In Mexico, death is not something to be feared or hated; She is embraced, loved, and adored. La Muerte is fêted, as the celebrant "...chases after it, mocks it, courts it, hugs it, sleeps with it; it is his favorite plaything and his most lasting love." This is a Mexican paean to La Huesuda: dry, crackling leaves, the incense smoke of altars honoring Death and the Dead, funeral bouquets, the
candies, chocolates, foods and tobacco of the ofrenda, amaranth, sweet cactus blossom and desert cereus."

La Catrina Mexican Grill & Cantina - El Paso, Texas

I haven't visited there yet, but it seems completely appropriate for the Dia de los Muertos - El Paso website! Right across from my office is the new La Catrina Mexican Grill & Cantina (317 East Mills). Cool artwork on the front of the place!

Finding copal in El Paso

I recently received an email about where to find copal resin in El Paso. Of course, incense is easy to find, but copal is another story.

First, a little about what copal is. Copal is a resin (dried sap) of the copal tree, which is more common in southern Mexico. This resin is often burned on ofrendas (altars) during Dia de los Muertos. The word copal is derived from the Nahuatl word copalli, meaning "incense." The resin can come in many forms; milky white, black and the most common, pale yellow. Copal's fragrance imparts a very smoky, cedar aroma. I absolutely love it, but many find it oppressive.

Copal resin is most typically burned on little charcoal burners, which are available at virtually any store that sells incense. (A foil-wrapped tube runs about $2-$3 for ten burners).

Copal incense can also be found in stick and smudge form, although they do not impart the genuine qualities as the resin. It tends to have a sweeter smell.

Copal resin can be found at the following places in El Paso and surrounding areas. These are the only ones I know of, but would appreciate it if readers could drop me a line if they discover it somewhere else. Be sure to call first to see if these places have it in stock.

Cool Arrows - 2000 N. Lee Trevino - 915-592-8877
Cool Arrows - 1226 McRae Blvd., 915-590-2200
Cool Arrows - 800 N Zaragoza - 915-790-2090
Cool Arrows - 4948 Hondo Pass - 915-755-3303
El Paso Museum of Art Gift Store - 1 Festival Arts Plaza - 915-532-1707
Funky Karma Incense & Tea Shop - 207 Avenida de Mesilla - Las Cruces, NM - 575-635-2275

Dia de los Muertos 2008 information - El Paso, Texas

Bits and pieces of information are beginning to come in for the 2008 celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) here in El Paso, Texas.

This year's event at Centro Mayapán will be focused on the peninsular area of Mexico (last year was Veracruz; the year before, Oaxaca). The dates and times have yet to be finalized. After a great lunch at Café Mayapán, I saw that they also have forms to fill out for people who would like to create and display an altar.

Dia de los Muertos dance performance in El Paso's Philanthropy Theatre

Someone posted a video of an excellent dance performance from the Philanthropy Theatre in downtown El Paso. This was also performed twice during the Dia de los Muertos festival in Union Plaza by the same group. The music, which is "Cabaret Hoover" from the film "The Triplets of Belleville," is a perfect complement to this skeletal dance. All credit for this goes to the cinematographer.

Skeleton dance

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - Centro Mayapan

Ofrendas at Centro Mayapan. Photos taken at Festival Dia de los Muertos at Centro Mayapan, El Paso, Texas, November 3, 2007.


The wonderful Son Jarocho group from Veracruz — Son de Madera. Photos taken at Festival Dia de los Muertos at Centro Mayapan, El Paso, Texas, November 3, 2007.

Ofrendas at Centro Mayapan. Photos taken at Festival Dia de los Muertos at Centro Mayapan, El Paso, Texas, November 3, 2007.


My daughter as a Catrina. Photos taken at Festival Dia de los Muertos at Centro Mayapan, El Paso, Texas, November 3, 2007.

A very tired Catrina three hours later, and yours truly — Mondo Loco. We were stopped several times for photos, including El Diario and What's Up. Photo taken at Festival Dia de los Muertos at Centro Mayapan, El Paso, Texas, November 3, 2007.

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - Celebration at Union Plaza

Processional through Union Plaza. Photos taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

Dancers at Union Plaza. Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.


Dancers watch a fellow troupe. Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

El Paso artist Cesar Ivan with one of his hand-made esqueleto marionettes. I'm glad to own one! Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

Papel picado streamers adorn Union Plaza. Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

Candles, marigolds and water on an ofrenda. Water is a common offering during Dia de los Muertos. Others includes salt, pan de muertos and fruit. Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

This ofrenda was in honor of El Paso's police and firefighters fallen in the line of duty. Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

Sugar skulls adorn an ofrenda. Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

Sugar skulls being sold by El Paso Calavera Company. Photos taken at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Union Plaza, El Paso, Texas, November 2, 2007.

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - Mexican Consulate

Sugar skulls and flores de muertos or cempasuchil (marigolds, the traditional flower of Dia de los Muertos)






The proverbially cool Marina Monsisvais and her hubby as La Catrína and El Catrín.




These photos are from the magnificent ofrenda for Frida Kahlo at the Mexican Consulate. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007.

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - Adair Margo Gallery

Ofrenda to El Paso artist Tom Lea. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007.

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - Clarkston Art, Guitars & Gifts

Ofrenda to Vincent Van Gogh. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007.

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - Tourist Distractions Gallery

Ofrenda honoring fallen El Paso soldiers lost in the war in Iraq. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - El Paso Chile Company

One of several beautiful, large painted paper maché skulls at El Paso Chile Company. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007.

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - Hal Marcus Gallery

I purchased the figure in the left of this photo (female calavera kneeling in front of casket).

Original artwork, folk art pieces and large ofrenda at the Hal Marcus Gallery. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007.