Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Dia De Los Muertos

The shot from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor happykatie.

An interesting shot that begs the question, what's going on? According to Happy Katie: "A local high school created this altar in memory of US troop casualties in Iraq for the MECA Houston Day of the Dead Festival." Ah yes, the day after we recover from our sugar hangovers, a large portion of the population is celebrating Dia De Los Muertos.

For those gringos not in the know, here's some info on the celebration from Iowa State University:

This is an ancient festivity that has been much transformed through the years, but which was intended in prehispanic Mexico to celebrate children and the dead. Hence, the best way to describe this Mexican holiday is to say that it is a time when Mexican families remember their dead, and the continuity of life.

Two important things to know about the Mexican Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) are:

1. It is a holiday with a complex history, and therefore its observance varies quite a bit by region and by degree of urbanization.

2. It is not a morbid occasion, but rather a festive time.

So there you have it, happy Dia De Los Muertos.

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