'I am with my ancestors': Scenes from the Day of the Dead Parade in Sunset Park

Día de Muertos isn't officially until November 1, but the Mexican diaspora in Brooklyn celebrated over the weekend

The Day of the Dead isn’t officially until November 1 and 2, but it was celebrated in all its glory in Sunset Park on Sunday for the annual Day of the Dead Parade here.

All along Fifth Avenue, where there is a large Mexican population, stores were overflowing with marigolds, masks and costumes of skeletons. Cafes and bakeries put out altars with ofrendas, or offerings, like the favorite foods, drinks and other items of loved ones who have passed away. Mariachi Talavera, a youth mariachi group, marched the route along with traditional dance troupes La Familia Orzuna and San Juan Bautista.

Members of Mariachi Talavera (Stephanie Keith)

In the streets, elders painted the faces of young people with white skeletal makeup in the style of La Catrina, the icon of Mexican identity closely associated with the Day of the Dead.

“I dress up like this to be part of the history of my country; this tradition comes from a long, long time ago, from the Aztec time, thousands of years ago,” said one parade attendee in a flowing black dress and full Catrina makeup who gave her name as Adriana. “When I am dressed like this, I can feel that I am with my ancestors.”

A young parade-goer has her face painted to look like Catrina (Stephanie Keith)

Mexico is made up of multiple states all with their own traditions, dress, music and customs, and many of the country’s diverse artistic expressions were represented in the parade. For example, Chinelos — costumed dancers popular in the Mexican state of Morelos — performed routines that mocked colonial Europeans. Others danced the “Danza de los Tecuanes” — “The Dance of the Jaguar” — from the state of Pueblo, which has its origins in a ritual to give honor to the “Old God” or the “God of Fire.”

Chinelos dance along Fifth Avenue (Stephanie Keith)

“I personally come here to showcase with my heritage and revive the spirit of what day of the dead means for newer generations, especially being so far from our home country Mexico,” said Romina Flores, another young participant.

Here are a few more scenes from the day.