In the state of Michoacán, Mexico the Purépecha people celebrate Animecha Kejtzitkua known as Noche de Animas (Night of the Souls). The Purépecha celebrated death rituals in the autumn at the same time as All Saints and All Soul days. The marigold flower is called apatzikua tzitziki in the Purépecha language. Yellow is the color of mourning in Michoacán. This flower is associated with the kingdom of the dead.

Today the celebration is a private affair with the family. In the past, on October 31st, the fishermen would hunt ducks on Lake Pátzcuaro, which was a pre-Hispanic custom. The butterfly fishermen would go to the lake to kill the duck with a tri-pronged, wooden spear called an “atlatl”. Only sitting ducks were hunted. They were then boiled and placed on the altar.

The preparation of the altars in many of the lakeside communities starts on October 30th. Wild bamboo is used for the rectangular frames that decorate the graves and the home altars. Inside the frames are designs of crosses, hearts, fruits such as apples, oranges, bananas, bread in the shape of souls, figures of animals made from sugar and candles. The food represents the bounty of the heavens. Typical foods prepared during this time of year are posole, casseroles of rice, plates of beans, enchiladas, fruits, pumpkin cooked with sugar along with bowls of candies and chocolates. The bamboo frames are covered with hundreds of marigolds until the green color of the bamboo can no longer be seen. A straw mat on the floor becomes a mountain of fruits. On November first these frames are taken from the homes and placed on the grave if this was the first year the individual passed away in certain communities.

Most communities around Lake Pátzcuaro visit the graves on the evening of November 1st now known as La Noche de Ánimas (the night of souls). One of the most popular cemeteries around the lake is Tzintzuntzan. Here one can see elaborate floral decorations such as three-dimensional burros, bicycles, airplanes, baby carriages and floral murals made from flowers.

I returned to Pátzcuaro this year to photograph La Velación de los Angelitos (the vigil on the little angels) on the island of Janitzio that took place from 6AM - 9AM, the cemetery in Tzintzuntzan, the altars for the difuntos in Santa Fe de Laguna and the cemetery in Arcoutín which all took place on November 1st. I returned to Tzintzuntzan at 5:30AM on November second, as I had never photographed it while it was dark or at dawn.

Once it again, it was a wonderful experience to be back in Michoacán to witness this incredibly beautiful and spiritual celebration of life.