Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) 2018
In the quaint, little Old Adobe Mission in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ, we experienced Aztec stories, Aztec ceremonial dancing, and the Grandeza waltz walk. It was our first Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) festival, so it was worth the 20.4-mile travel. It was on this event that I learned that the deceased angelitos or infants/children (Day of the Little Angels) are commemorated on Oct. 31 and the deceased adults on Nov. 2.
Free parking space was very limited so we got lucky when there were 3 spots left. After the Dia de los Muertos opening, we walked around the town and enjoyed the night's cool breeze. The small roads and small establishments with the cozy ambiance reminded me of my hometown (I.T. Park, Cebu pulses with life on Fridays much like this old town in Scottsdale).
On Sunday, St. Mary's Basilica Minore hosted their own Dia De Los Muertos. Ample parking space is tucked away inside the belly (underground) of the block, and Googling the church's parking space sometimes doesn't return results. We're relieved when we found a sign which says no-right-turn-except-for-church-goers. Or something to that effect. Mariachi, ballet folklorico, trunk ofrendas (altars), food trucks (yummy Mex grub!), local artisans, arts-and-crafts corners were all over the place.
It's worth noting that St. Mary's, built in 1881, is listed in the National Registration of Historic Places (surveyors check each year the church is in tiptop shape). St. Mary's houses AZ' largest stained glass windows collection from Germany. It is currently the only minor basilica in Arizona as evident in two symbols: umbraculum (umbrella-like symbol of red and gold silk) and the tintinnabulum (bell). During the church tour, our host pointed out the Mama Mary made it to the Guiness World Records as the saint with the most titles and that Jesus has the least number.
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