One of the great things about having friends come to visit, is going places and doing things not on the usual agenda. Thus, last week, while accompanying my friend B on a private tour of sights outside Oaxaca city, the guide asked if we knew about the Muertos murals in Villa de Zaachila and would we like to see them. Absolutely, we said!
In late October, prior to Día de Muertos, young artists are invited to paint Day of the Dead related murals on the walls of Calle Coquiza, the street that connects the church, Santa María Natividad, to the municipal cemetery. Customs, beliefs, and legends provide the inspiration, as well as day-to-day activities.
Flor de Piña dancers welcome residents and visitors to step through the doorway to the land beyond.
Where electric meters serve as faces.
And, telephone poles add a third dimension to the design.
Painted pitchers and candles nestle in vegetation escaping from under a portón.
And, a dancer frolics in sand waiting to be mixed into concrete for construction next door.
Skeletons use an electric meter to get a leg up in climbing the conduit.
Trees provide shade, as Pan de Muertos is baked in an outdoor oven.
Leaves flutter above, as Bu’pu del Valle (chocolate atole) is frothed with a molinillo before being served in traditional hand-painted jicaras.
Flowers tumble over the wall to adorn a catrina portrait’s hat.
The murals along the walls of Calle Coquiza remain throughout the year — until replaced by the next Día de Muertos artists’ offerings. In addition, during Day of the Dead, this Calzada de los Muertos (Road of the Dead) is paved with sand paintings. It is definitely going on my Muertos “must see” itinerary.
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View From Casita Colibrí 
Oh! I want to see these in person!
These were only a small sample of the murals that line both sides of the street. Can’t wait to see the Muertos 2017 murals!
These are fabulous! so creative; I couldn’t stop grinning as I looked at them.
I know, we were oohing and ahhhing and chuckling out loud. 🙂
Great photos!
Thanks! Great subjects. 😉
Sorry that I missed those! Well, next time…
I missed them for almost 8 years. So glad to have found out about them!
These murals are fabulous! Do you know which day they do the sand paintings?
So much to see so little time!!!
Finding out is on my “to do” list 😉 I’ll let you know.
Never thought death could be so whimsical. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Liz!
Who was your guide?
Benito Hernández
Discover Oaxaca Tours
http://www.discover-oaxaca.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Discover.Oaxaca
Twitter: https://twitter.com/discoveroaxaca
Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150801-d7109397-Reviews-Discover_Oaxaca_Tours-Oaxaca_Southern_Mexico.html
I’m planning to do a blog post (hopefully, soon) of all the places we went. The 2 days we spent with Benito were incredibly informative, amenable to our specific requests, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Those are amazing! I would love to see them one day.
They are definitely worth a visit!
[…] We were about to head to lunch, when we were waylaid by Benito’s inquiry if we knew about and would like to see the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) murals decorating the walls of Calle Coquiza — a street that connects the church with the municipal cemetery. Of course we responded that we would love to see them! If you are in Zaachila, they are worth checking out. You can see more of the murals on my blog post, Muertos murals in Zaachila. […]
[…] of murals may be welcomed and encouraged in Tlacolula de Matamoros and Villa de Zaachila but, alas, such is not the case in the city of Oaxaca. Remember the image on my Surfin’ […]
[…] first saw many of the murals in the summer of 2017 and was happy to see they are still intact, albeit some are a little faded. […]
[…] off our very filling lunch, we walked toward the Templo de Santa Maria de la Natividad to begin the Muertos mural walk to the Panteón. However, before even reaching the church, we were stopped in our tracks by this […]