Potpourri of pan de muertos

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Potpourri of pan de muertos

November 9, 2018 by spixl

Several pan de muerto festivals sprung up in the valley of Oaxaca during Día de los Muertos — including a Festival del Pan de Muerto in Villa Díaz Ordaz, a Feria del Pan de Muerto Adornado in Villa de Zaachila, and a Feria del Pan y Chocolate in the city of Oaxaca. While the intention of these fairs is to attract tourists, both foreign and domestic, the primary market remains ofrendas (offerings) to the difuntos (departed) — who must be fed during their brief return to visit with their loved ones.

And, like apron styles, pan de muerto (bread of the dead) varies from village to village, be it sold at a feria, mercado, or neighborhood panadería.

Panadería Yalalag in Oaxaca city.

San Pablo Villa de Mitla.

Mercado, 20 de noviembre, Oaxaca city.

Villa de Zaachila.

Villa de Zaachila

Villa de Zaachila.

Though my difuntos have departed and my altar has been disassembled, I couldn’t consign my beautiful (but stale) pan de muerto offerings to the garbage can.

Pan de muerto from Yalalag, Mitla, and Zaachila.

So, here they remain in a basket on my counter — until they disintegrate or the hormigas (ants) enjoy a feast.

Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, food festival, Holidays, Travel & Tourism | Tagged bread of the dead, Day of the Dead, day of the dead bread, Día de los Muertos, feria, Mexico, Oaxaca, pan de muerto, photos, popular travel destinations, San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Villa Díaz Ordaz, Villa de Zaachila, Villa Hidalgo Yalalag | 11 Comments

11 Responses

on November 9, 2018 at 9:36 pm | Reply Jo Ann Ward

Wow, Shannon. The pan designs are amazing. I’ve never seen such variety. Photos are fabulous, as always. Saludos de Santa Fe!
- on November 9, 2018 at 10:31 pm | Reply spixl
  
  Thank you, Jo Ann! The creativity and variety never ceases to surprise and delight.
on November 9, 2018 at 10:21 pm | Reply Cristina

Stale pan de muertos makes FANTASTIC bread pudding, hint hint.

Great photos, Shannon, thanks for putting this together!
- on November 9, 2018 at 10:38 pm | Reply spixl
  
  Thanks for the kind and complementary words, Cristina. And, bread pudding is a great idea! Sorry to miss you on your recent whirlwind Oaxaca trip. Next time. 😉
on November 10, 2018 at 11:02 am | Reply Laura Gorman

Put them out for the birds!
- on November 11, 2018 at 9:11 pm | Reply spixl
  
  Good idea. They are currently mad at me, as I’ve emptied the fountain so I can clean it. 😉
on November 10, 2018 at 6:02 pm | Reply Francie

These breads are so glorious !
- on November 11, 2018 at 9:13 pm | Reply spixl
  
  I know… Nothing is too delicious or too beautiful for the difuntos!
on October 21, 2021 at 10:51 am | Reply Day in the country, part 2 | View From Casita Colibrí

[…] sated, we went in search of Zaachila’s beautifully decorated pan de muerto (Day of the Dead bread). It was still a little early in the season but, zigzagging up and down the […]
on October 28, 2021 at 9:01 pm | Reply elfrto

Wow these panes look beautiful! Is it ok if I use one of your pictures for a video I’m making about pan de muerto?
- on October 29, 2021 at 9:16 am | Reply spixl
  
  Yes, if it’s not being used to sell something. If possible, please send me the link to the video when finished.