Adrian, Cafe Ena, 10/30/2011
Adrian Getting Her Dia de Los Muertos Face
Yesterday evening my wife and I and her brother and his wife had dinner at our favorite restaurant, Cafe Ena. It is a Latin fusion bistro.
Because this is the week of Dia de Los Muertos, the restaurant and staff were celebrating. It is believed that on October 31st, the dead return to walk the earth and visit their families.
A family sets up its ofrenda 5 days before October 31st. The ofrenda is a work of art, an alter created to honor the departed. It has with pictures of departed family members, friends, cherished heroes such as Frida Callo, flowers, incense, candles, and a myriad of sugar skulls. Then each day until the Dia de Los Muertos, members of the family visit the ofrenda to remember their loved ones and to pray.
As you walk into the dinning area there is an ofrenda.
Another aspect of Dia de Los Muertos is the use of face painting. The staff at Ena’s had their faces decorated in typical Dia de Los Muertos designs: a white undercoat with the eyes, nose, and mouth accented so that the face looks like a skull. Then ornate floral and geometric designs are added. Whimsy is an important element.
While the celebration features lots of skulls and skeletons the overall spirit is one of life and remembrance. Flowers are just as important as the skulls and brilliant colors are used everywhere. Unlike Halloween, where ghosts and spirits are portrayed in a frightening way, Dia de Los Muertos is a festive event where the dead return to visit the living and share in the joys of life and family.
At first, I startled by the Ofrenda and being served by a young woman with a face painted as a colorful skull. Then I realized that it was perfect for our dinner, the night before the day of the dead.