Day of the Dead, Xoxocotlan, Oaxaca, 2012

Oaxaca's neighbor city, Xoxocotlan, is famous for its celebration of Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Usually its old and new cemeteries are glowing with candles, the graves covered with flowers and surrounded by the families of departed souls who are expected to return for a visit at this time. The celebration tonight, October 31, 2012, was dampened by an unseasonable rain. When we saw the cemeteries, there were relatively few flower-decked, candlelit graves, although some families were starting to arrive for the night. However, we were able to catch a few colorful moments--

A young boy stands guard at a family grave

A very young Catrina

A Catrina in a sand painting

Death playing his magic flute

A giant figure of Death, dancing in the street