Oaxaca is a great place to experience Los Días de los Muertos. In 2012 the place was jumping! There were weddings taking place at Santo Domingo with mini Guelaguetzas as a part of the bridal party. There were parades with teenagers, school kids and pre-schoolers dressed up as skeletons out in full force. Skeleton imagery was all over town from sugar skulls to installation art along with plenty of pan de muerto to feed the dead. Sand painting is also quite popular in Oaxaca during this time of year. A visit to the village of San Antonino was on the agenda as well to see the fabulous floral decorations over the graves. A trip to the market in Tlacolula was made the Sunday before Day of the Dead. It was also quite lively!

One needs to keep in mind that people in Mexico have a different out look on death and dying. They believe we're born, we live and we die, but we don't truly die as our spirits return to earth during the extremely joyous and festive Days of the Dead. People in Mexico mock death and dying as they look at it with a sense of humor. No matter what we do professionally in our lives we're going to end up as a bag of bones so that's where the humor comes into play. That is why people paint themselves up as skeletons because they are making fun of their own mortality which will come sooner or later.

The Mexican writer Octavo Paz wrote, "Death also lacks meaning for the modern Mexican. It is no longer a transition, an access to another life more alive than our own. But although we do not view death as a transcendence, we have not eliminated it from our daily lives. The word death is not pronounced in New York, in Paris, in London, because it burns the lips. The Mexican, in contrast, is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it; it is one of his favorite toys and his most steadfast love".

Oaxaca shows it's true spirit during this festive time of year. There is never a dull moment. Viva Oaxaca!