THE HIGH ALTAR

 

The biggest memorial altar at the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the history museum. I note the skeleton in the St. Louis Cardinals baseball uniform, which may reflect the team's performance last year.                   

SOMBER WATCH

A few people dressed and made up as catrinas mingled with the crowd, posing for pictures with visitors. Late in the afternoon, they came out on the building's portico for a bit of a fashion show. Her makeup seems unusually sad and, strictly speaking, catrinas are female.             

RED WINGS

 

More color from Dia de los Muertos at the history museum. I can't say which was more engaging, the choreography or the costumes.                 

LA CATRINA

 

La Catrina is the face of Dia de los Muertos. The origin and popularity of the figure is a bit murky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Calavera_Catrina) but it is now inescapable during the November 1 - 2 period of All Saints and All Souls Days. This example at the History Museum festival stands in front of the flag of the City of St. Louis.              

ALTARS AND ICE

One of the most touching customs of Dia de los Muertos is the building of altars that memorialize the dead but, even more, keep the living in communion with them. It can be an individual, an entire family or something much wider. At the History Museum's festival there is always an altar for the entire local Peruvian community. This one strikes particularly deep. The circle at the bottom center says "Perished In ICE Custody or Encounters, 2025-2026." ICE, of course, is the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. I don't need to repeat its story.              

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

 

There is an annual Dia de los Muertos festival at STL's Missouri History Museum. (Which should be called the St. Louis History Museum, since you won't find a thing about the Ozarks or Kansas City. I suppose there are old legal reasons.) One of the main presentations was an hour-long program of old and new danza mexicana. More to come.               

SNAKE EYES

 

Granddaughter Ellie's school was closed on Election Day, which suddenly seems to be a thing. We all went to the St. Louis Aquarium, which the kid loves. Plenty of fish, sure, but also aquatic animals like this one. Is it sleeping?