From the Events Calendar
This party's Dead (on purpose): Mexican Consulate to throw open its doors to allof Houston
Editor's note: Listings editor Carolina Astrain will write a regular feature, where she spotlights things pulled from CultureMap's extensive events calendar. This edition: Where to find Day of the Dead fun.
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) can sometimes feel like the ugly sister of this holiday season — with Halloween being the pretty one. Who wants to remember the dead, when you can consume a mountain of candy and feel good about looking like a slut?
Nobody, but this year maybe you should take part in some goody two-shoes cultural diversity and appreciation.
On Tuesday, the Consulate General of Mexico is throwing a Day of the Dead celebration from 7-9 p.m. and the public is invited. Local organizations and community leaders, (Alianza Hispana de Conroe, Casa Estado de México, Casa Puebla Bonding Against Adversity Inc., Club Cárdenas, Dorothy Caram, Grupo Folklórico Xochipilli, Houston Area Women’s Center, Sociedad Mutualista de Potosinos, Unidos Por Hidalgo and the University of Houston) will display altar (oferenda) displays honoring the dead.
There will be lots of dancing to the music of Trío Huasteco at Grupo Folclórico Xochipilli. Traditional Mexican food and drink will be catered by Fonda Santa Rosa (Doña Tere), Supermercados Teloloapan, Refrescos Topo Chico, Klass, Golosos Mexican Food, Taco Palenque, Tamales Doña Tere and Bimbo Bakeries.
Even if you grew up in a traditional Mexican household, this holiday can be confusing thing to wrap your head around. Decorating altars in honor of the dearly departed can sound a little crazy.
Devil worshipping? No. One of the least selfish holidays of the season? Yes.
And Houstonians seem to enjoy it. This year several groups cooked up an impressive slew of art shows and festivals this weekend honoring the dead (Lawndale Art Center, Domy Books and The Brook Smith Art Coalition in The Heights).
If you go to the Consulate General of Mexico’s Day of the Dead (as-authentic-as-it’s-going-to-get) celebration and decide you can’t get enough of skeletons, candied skulls and remembering grandma — hit up East End Studio Gallery tonight and check out their Calavera Fashion Show (Skull Fashion Show) on Saturday. There's also Talento Bilingüal de Houston's "Desfile de Catrinas" Opening Reception tonight, where Lourdes Lopez Moreno brings her exhibit of a family of skeletons - a.k.a.“Calaveras,” hand built from clay. The exhibit runs through Nov. 12.
Tim Burton would probably approve.