Inocencio Fernandez, being well drunk after consuming a lot of mezcal in the bar, began to see many skeletons around him. One of them asked Inocencio “Why you are alone?” It was the Death in person who tried to take him. He thanks the Lord of the Wonders for he could escape, running out of the bar, safe and sound before he died on that November 2. He promised to amend his ways.

Huamantla, Tlaxcala

Jacinta Valladares made a Day of the Dead altar for her dead relatives. The altar became so beautiful that the Dead herself came to look at it. Jacinta was very scared when she saw the Grim reaper in her home, and she promised to offer a retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe if she’d save her of being take by the bonny Death. The Virgin put a light ray, and the Dead went away. Jacinta completes her promise with this retablo.

There was a legend in my town about a ghost of a villista who rode the horse on the Night of All Saints. I never believed that but that night I worked late in the mountains, and on the way back to my hut I bumped into that ghost. He told me to go with him to the Revolution. I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan, and that moment the ghost disappeared. I thank for I didn’t die of fear.

Ponciano Morales
Durango, Mexico

Marta Juarez and her daughter Maria were coming back home from a dinner late evening. They met a company of happy skeletons in a dark alley. The skeletons were celebrating the Day of the Dead. Marta and maria were so frightened, they couldn’t move. They thank the Virgin of Zapopan because the skeletons didn’t notice them and passed by, chatting and laughing.

Thank you, Saint Isidor the Laborer, for having heard my prayers, so my first harvest of marigold flowers was very good. Now I’m going to sell them at the cemeteries on the Day of the Dead.

Filomena Tepox
Atlixco, Puebla

I thank Saint Pancras for protection me every November 2, because that night my bar is filled with the souls of the dead of the town. They come very cheerful to celebrate their Feast with music and mezcal.

Filomeno Arriaga
Oaxaca, Mexico

There was a legend in my town about a ghost of a villista who rode the horse on the Night of All Saints. I never believed that but that night I drank too much mezcal and on my way back to my hut I bumped into that ghost. He told me to go with him to the Revolution. I prayed the Virgin of San Juan, and that moment the ghost disappeared. I thank for I didn’t die of fear.

Feliciano Piña
Durango, Mexico

November 2, the brothers Cosme and Basilio Trejo went to the cemetery to drink. There they met a mister sitting on a grave who wanted to give them a chest full of gold so they could continue to go on with their vice. Suddenly, they noticed that it was a dead man who was speaking with them. They implored Saint Benedict for protecting them so nothing bad happened to them. They promised to cut off drinking and to respect the dead.

Oaxaca

Para el Día de los Muertos. This ex-voto pays homage to my family and ancestors who passed away over many generations of Coupers and the families of my lineage. ( Until July this year, I was 6th generation New Zealander. ) In this ex-voto I use my pop’s prosthetic leg & my great-grandfather’s Rotherdam pocket-watch, one of only objects I brought with me to the USA.

1st & 2nd of November 2010

The Day of the Dead, I decided to put an altar for my recently deceased wife. So I cooked her favorite dishes. That night, I heard some voice calling me. I went to the sitting-room and I saw, with astonishment, that it was my wife scolding me for bad cooking and oversalting the food. I thank Saint Charbel for I saw my angry and complaining wife only that night, since she was also unbearable when she was alive.

Aniceto Romero
Puebla, Puebla

The Day of the Dead, in front of the tavern, some skeletons asked me to take them in my carriage for a romantic ride under the moonlight. Since I was pretty drunk and they offered me enough money, I agreed to take them. I thank the Virgin of San Juan for it didn’t occur to them to take me to their graves at the dawn.

I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for the opportunity to arrange a beautiful altar for my late grandparents, uncles and aunts for the Day of the Dead. In this way I can tell them that there is a lot of their essence is still around and they aren’t completely dead because we remember them and we offer to them flowers, food and candles to tell how we love them.