August from Mia - ofrenda update

 

Here is Mia's August envelope....and I am only two weeks ahead on writing my blog posts - so - it looks like we will have two solid months of me talking about the ofrenda - and comments on the envelopes will be confirmation that I enjoy getting mail. Trust me -- the mail that arrives from my pen pals is a welcome part of each month.

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The first mention of the big ofrenda/Day of the Dead project was on April  23rd. I'd been working on the project for about a month. I pre-write some of the updates - so - progress reports may not be in order. We hit the deadline for flowers - I needed them done by the end of August - with a two week grace period - which we are using. This is a 7 month project. 

I fiddled with the sculls in July and August - and worked out most of the kinks. Keith, the lead designer on the event wanted scroll work rather than flower designs on the skull so this is what it looks like at the moment. 

I have to make smaller flowers for the eyes and we prefer a black mask - but it does not photograph well at all. The skull with the mask will represent the year 2020 when the event was not held. When I saw the photo of this skull before it had the decorations - it made me sad. I much prefer a plain white skull. Covering up the big skull with designs will be like leaving the hospital with my new baby and going straight to a tattoo parlor that is willing to tattoo a baby. I guess that skull is a few months old - but you get the idea.

There will be 24 nichos (niches) to represent each ofrenda for the past 24 years. Patty is creating the one for 2021 which had butterflies and hearts. Janet is doing 2022 which honored Luchadores - the wrestlers.

Below is the only photo we had to inspire Patty on her Nicho.

It's a portion of the 2021 ofrenda. 

As you can see - the aesthetic is colorful and busy.

Guess what Patty - I finally found out who was being honored in 2021 - all the people who died from covid. Patty finished the border on her nicho - and was waiting to hear what to put in the middle.

The internet tells me: In Mexican ofrendas, butterflies, particularly monarch butterflies, represent the souls of deceased loved ones returning to visit during the Day of the Dead celebrations. Their presence is believed to guide the spirits to the altars where families honor and remember them.