Hollywood Forever Cemetery presents the 19th annual Dia de los Muertos festival October 27 2018: NOON until MIDNIGHT: This year’s theme: COATLICUE “MOTHER OF GODS”
Photos by Karen Ostlund at Hollywood Forever media preview October 10, 2018
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| President Tyler Cassity : "For 19th Annual Dia de los Muertos, we honor
the Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon, stars, and the sun. This
year 2018, we are celebrating the divine feminine, the mother that
unites us all, COATLICUE, Moher Of Gods." |
Coatlicue most famous monumental representation was at the Temple Mejor in Mexico City. After the Spanish Conquest, the temple was destroyed and her statue was buried because it was considered an inappropriate pagan idol by Spanish invaders. After languishing in obscurity for more than 200 years, she was rediscovered in 1790.
Not long after she was found, Coatlicue was reburied — she was considered frightening and pagan. Many years later she was uncovered again in the twentieth century, becoming one of the crowning objects of the National Anthropology Museum and Mexican/Aztec identity.
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| This year’s main stage will feature Panteon Rococo (photo), also The Mexican Institute Of Sound and Hello Seahorse among many. |
HISTORY: Dia De Los Muertos is one of Mexico’s traditional holidays reuniting and honoring beloved ancestors, family and friends. It is an ancient and enduring ritual when the living commune with the dead – a mystical night when the veil is lifted between their two realms and they may share a day together.
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| AZTEC DANCES & RITUALS |
The historical roots of this celebration date back to the pre-Hispanic cultures of Meso-America of the indigenous people, especially the Nahua (Aztecs, Mayans, Toltecas, Tlaxcaltec, Chichimec, Tecpanec) and others native to Mexico more than 3,000 years. When the Spaniards conquered the country, this indigenous custom was rooted so deeply that, after five centuries of colonization, it has continued to survive and remain as celebrated as in its first days. Throughout each period in Mexican culture, death seems to hold no terror.
In Mexican art, legends, and religion, death has not been a mysterious and fearful presence but a realistic recognizable character as much a part of life as life itself. Dia De Los Muertos expresses this perspective: it is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colorful celebration where Death takes a lively, friendly expression and is not frightening or strange.
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| UNAM LA exhibit by artist Tomas Casademunt |
There is no place for sorrow or weeping for this could be interpreted as a discourteous to the dead relatives who are visiting gladly. Indigenous people believed that souls did not die, that they continued living in Mictlán (Place of Death) a special place for them to finally rest. On Dia De Los Muertos, tradition holds that the dead return to earth to visit their living relatives. It is believed that although these relatives can’t see them, they can surely feel them. This night is an important feast and evocation. It is a time when family members share memorable stories that evoke the lives of their ancestors .
Offerings and altars are created to welcome and commemorate the dead. Marigolds and incense are offered in abundance because it is believed their aromatic scents guide the dead to the place where the feast is being held. . A profusion of candles dispels the darkness just as the souls are being illuminated from the shadows of death. Altars are created with photos, mementos, fruit, bread, and other favorite things of the ancestors being welcomed and honored. The artifacts of these altars also provide the opportunity to teach children about those who came before them. Dia De Los Muertos is a time of celebration on remembrance. It is also a time to come to terms with our mortality and become aware of the cycle of life and death. Rather than deny and fear death this event teaches us to accept and contemplate the meaning of mortality.
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| Folklorico dance group at Hollywood Forever, LA Day Of The Dead | |
Mexican food vendors will feature:
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| Tamale Shoppe |
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| Romega Taquera |
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| PEZ Cantina nachos |
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| FRIDA tacos |
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| Drop Dead Gorgeous make-up team will be at Hollywood Forever, Oct.27 |
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| LOVE Swirls cotton candy |
2018 Event Schedule, October 27:
ALTAR EXHIBITS 12pm – 12am
Winners announced at 8pm at Main Stage
AZTEC DANCES & RITUALS 12pm – 12am
Aztec Circle on the Lake and also throughout the cemetery grounds
CHILDREN’S ART CENTER 12pm – 6pm
Arts & Crafts • Face Painting
CEREMONIAL PROCESSION
From main entrance to main stage 2:00pm – 2:30pm
COSTUME CONTEST 1pm – 7:30pm
Get your photo taken at the official Photo Booth
Winner announced on the Main Stage
CATHEDRAL ART EXHIBIT 12pm – 12am
ARTIST OF THE YEAR: TINO RODRIGUEZ
ARTIST: Cecelia P • Emi Motokawa • Gabriela Cayetano • Lyn Elishaw • Mar Abella •Pola López • Virginia Val
EL MOSAICO STAGE 3pm – 9pm
DANCE & MUSIC
3:00pm Ce Ollintzin – Aztec Opening Ceremony
3:20pm No te rajes Jalisco – Ballet Folklorico
3:40pm Grupo Mestizo – Musical act
4:00pm Raices de Mexico OC Ballet Folklorico
4:30pm Xhanat Ballet Folklorico
5:00pm Folklor Cielo y Tierra – Ballet Folklorico
6:00pm Daniel Munoz – Singer
6:30pm Donaji – Ballet Folkorico
7:00pm Eterna Juventud – Ballet Folklorico
7:30pm Ballet Folklorico de CSUN
8:15pm El Santo Golpe – Musical Act
LA CATRINA STAGE 3pm – 9:30pm
MUSIC, THEATER & DANCE
3:05pm Laurie Marie – Contemporary Arte in Movement/Dance Company
3:30pm Tato Monraz – Singer
4:10pm Fanny Ara – Flamenco Dance
4:40pm Esteban León – Singer
5:20pm Tribu – Prehispanic Music
6:00pm Fanny Ara – Flamenco Dance
6:30pm Tato Monraz – Singer
7:10pm Laurie Marie – Contemporary Arte in Movement/Dance Company
7:35pm Eli Presser – Puppet Theater
EL FANDANGO EN SU ESPLENDOR STAGE 4pm – 12am
TRADITIONAL MUSIC FROM SOUTH EAST COAST OF MEXICO
MC’s Adriana Diaz, Silvia Villegas and Carmen Deesa
4:00pm Los Jaguares del Cereno
4:30pm Aparato
5:00pm Conjunto Xi
6:00pm Carlos Se
7:00pm Alebrijes en Vuelo
8:00pm Conjunto Tenocelomeh
9:00pm Los Hijos de Santo
10:00pm Los Coyotitos
11:00pm Nosis con Participacion Especal del Ballet Eterna Juventud del Profesir Manuel Ranirez
MUERTE Y TRADICIÓN STAGE 12pm – 12am
MAIN STAGE - MUSIC & DANCE PERFORMANCES
12:00pm Metralleta de Oro
2:30pm Opening Ceremony and Aztec Blessing
3:00pm Traditional Dance
4:30pm Lili Molina
5:30pm Y La Bamba
6:30pm Hello Seahorse!
7:30pm Mexican Institute of Sound
8:30pm Altar & Costume Winners Announcement
9:00pm AZTEC DANCE HONORING COATLICUE
9:30pm Panteón Rococó
11:00pm Metralleta de Oro
General Admission: $25 per person
Children 8 years and under free until 4pm
Seniors 65 and over free until 4pm
Dia de Los Muertos attire encouraged, or come dressed in Calaca apparel
Enjoy Mexican cuisine and a wide spectrum of Day of the Dead arts and crafts available for purchase
Location Address:
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
LADayOfTheDead.com
Sponsors:UNAM Los Angeles, The Mexican Tourist Board, FORD, Estrella Jalisco and Northgate Market.
PARKING:
Paramount Gower Structure, 801 North Gower, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Paramount Lemon Grove Structure
5675 Lemon Grove Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Paramount Van Ness Structure
783 North Van Ness Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Hollywood Production Center
1149 North Gower St
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Joseph Le Conte Middle School
1149 North Gower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Vine Street Elementary School
955 North Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90038
