Patzcuaro

  
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Patzcuaro is a beautiful colonial city about an hour from Morelia in the state of Michoacan. It is the center or Purupechan-Tarascan civilization, near Lake Patzcuaro and is know for it's historically preserved classic mountain colonial architecture. For those who have not been to Patzcuaro, you really should go during this time of year to see the Day of the Dead celebrations. Patzcuaro is considered the best place to visit for Day of the Dead: the Michoacan Symphony plays in the cathedral, there is a huge fiesta and art fairs in the town's two zocolos, and several cemeteries are open for viewing on the night of the 2nd. (A photographers dream come true.) This is the highlight of the trip an not to be missed since your guides have been there before this time of year and know all the right places to go.

Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos) is an important religious and pre-Columbian cultural holiday in Mexico. Also called All Souls Day, it is an occasion marked by festive celebrations to honor the dead. Cemeteries are cleaned and decorated with marigolds and other flowers, special food and candies cooked, and home altars are created to pay homage to ancestors. On this joyous day of remembrance, families congregate at dusk at family graves to sing special songs, recite poems, tell stories about the person, and eat the remembered ancestor's favorite foods. Day of the Dead takes place every year on November 2nd and day of the Dead Children is Nov. 1 when toys and sugar skulls are created in honor of children who have passed on.