When Día de Muertos approaches, the panaderías (bakeries) work overtime to fill their shelves and counters with Pan de Muertos — an egg based bread, sometimes elaborately decorated, but always with a cabecita (also known as a muñeca), a little painted flour dough head, at the top.
Tlacolula de Matamoros mercado – October 29, 2017
Pan de Muertos in Tlacolula mercado – October 29, 2017
The most intricately decorated bread comes from Mitla. For a few years, Mitla held a Pan de Muertos fair and competition, with prizes for decoration. Alas, because their bread is in such demand, the feria was halted two years ago as the bakers put a priority on attending to their customers needs — this is their livelihood, after all!
Pan de Muertos in the mercado of San Pablo Villa de Mitla – October 29, 2017
Pan de Muertos in the mercado of Villa de Mitla – October 29, 2017
However, the small pueblo, Villa Díaz Ordaz picked up the slack and last year began holding a Festival del Pan de Muertos. The village is off the beaten path and the festival hasn’t yet drawn much in the way of tourism, but it’s a wonderful event that blogger buddy Chris and I love attending (See his post, here). Among other things, the event is encouraging and passing along to the younger generation knowledge and pride in the traditions and skills of their community. And, in my book, that is a good thing!
Pan de Muertos in Villa Díaz Ordaz – October 29, 2017
Boys in Villa Díaz Ordaz learning to make Pan de Muertos dough – October 29, 2017
Oaxaca city has also gotten into the Pan de Muertos promotion act. A 6-day Feria del Pan y el Chocolate was held at the Jardín Carbajal. One could talk to knowledgeable vendors eager to share their passion, buy bread and chocolate to take home, or just take break from the busyness of this time of year, to sit in the shade of the umbrellas dipping the pan into hot chocolate. Yummm…
Pan de Muertos at the Feria del Pan y el chocolate in Oaxaca city – October 31, 2017
Pan de Muertos at Feria del Pan y Chocolate in Oaxaca city – October 31, 2017
Why all this bread? To place on one’s own ofrenda and to take to the ofrendas of relatives and extended family — its essence to nourish the difuntos (departed) when they come for their annual visit.
Pan de Muertos on the altar of the chapel in the panteón in Teotitlán del Valle – November 1, 2017
It is a time of year when the difuntos also nourish the souls of the living.
Save
Read Full Post »
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 