Partying with the dead headsby Caitlin Donohue
Jose Posada’s classic Day of the Dead “Calavera” engraving
The sharpening chill, nights stretching longer past their summer shortness- in autumn the world as we know it begins to draw in upon itself towards winter’s temporary death. In Mexico, this moment is celebrated as Day of the Dead, a time when the lines blur between this world and the next. Families gather together to remember and treasure lost loves and try their best to tempt them back for a visit.
How do they throw down the welcome mat? This is Mexico we’re talking about, so of course their answers are art and fiesta. There are mock altars decorated with colorful tissue paper and skulls made of sugar. Playful calaveras are written, macabre epitaphs that make fun of your still-living friends. Parades and processionals fill the main streets and over at the cemetery, people are setting up tailgating parties on their dead friends’ graves. It’s a time to strut with a smile in front of death and subvert sadness.
Back to you (you like that, don’t you), because this is also San Francisco we’re talking about. Here are two incredible ways to wild on D.O.T.D:
How it went down last year at the SF Symphony’s Day of the Dead concert
1. Davies Symphony Hall is inviting you and yours (lucky!) to come celebrate with their 2nd annual Dia de los Muertos family matinee concert and cultural festivities. Drink chocolate, eat pan de muerto treats, learn about the art of making sugar skulls, flounce around with traditional dance troupes and then sit yourself down for some music.
This year’s performance is conducted by 29 year old musical genius/glass ceiling shatterer/total hottie Alondra de la Parra, a cultural ambassador for her country that holds the title of first mexicana to conduct in New York City. She’ll be leading the symphony in Saint Saëns’ ‘Carnival of the Animals,’ a zoological adventure that Saëns deemed too frivolous once he wrote it, allowing only a single movement to be published in his lifetime lest his career be vested with some levity.
The mole on the enchilada, ‘Like Water For Chocolate’ author Laura Esquivel, will round out the program with her original calaveras, to be doled out dexterously in between musical acts.
What better way to take your mind off the fact that you’re gonna have to wait a year before you can wear that ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ jumpsuit again?
Sun/1, 1 p.m. (concert starts at 2 p.m.), $15-$65
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness, SF
(415) 503-5474 www.sfsymphony.org
2. I also love the art and fiesta at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. The community center provides a lot of the visual creations for the symphony’s festivities and has a muertos get down auténtico of their own that should not be missed. This year they’ve got a collection of classic prints from Jose Posada and Manuel Manilla- two 19th century Mexican artists of note whose work inspired everyone from Diego Rivera to Jerry Garcia. Plus the music, food and good times that mark any of their celebrations. Make a day (of the dead) of it?
Bring Back The Dead: Dia de los Muertos Gala Reception
Mon/2 (exhibit runs through 11/21), 6-10:30 p.m., $5 (children free)
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
2868 Mission, SF
(415) 821-2155 www.missionculturalcenter.org
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