Why does a Mexican holiday belong at Burning Man? I've rolled around ideas in my head for this camp for years, ever since I started going to Burning Man. It seemed like a natural fit for me, given the Arizona Burners' involvement in the local celebrations in Tucson.  It's a unique part of our culture in this area, that inspires artisans and performers to create, and captures the same imagination that and spirit that drives us to the playa year after year. It's been a passion of mine for roughly the same amount of time that Burning Man has, and I always wanted to find a way to bring the two together.

But as I delved deeper into research about the holiday, I found that the connections go even deeper than that.

For one thing, it seems that the original Aztec rituals on which Dia de los Muertos is based, (which date back 3000 years) were not always in early November. According to this history of the holiday,

"To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today. Previously it fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for the entire month."

And then there is the intentionally ephemeral nature of the arts of the holiday itself, such as papel picado and sugar skulls. From "Dia de Muertos: The Dead Come to Life in Mexican Folk Art":

"No exploration of the Day of the Dead would be complete without a discussion of the ephemeral creations used in its celebration. Most of the elaborate Day of the Dead altars found in Oaxacan homes are adorned with authentic works of art meant to last no longer than the fiesta itself.

To Western culture oriented to preserving everything as long as possible, it may seem strange to expend so much labor on objects having no other purpose than to be consumed and destroyed. Mexicans, especially indigenous Oaxacans, see themselves as ephemeral beings in an ephemeral world. To enjoy material objects, yet be willing to relinquish them, is totally natural to them."

Now what else does that sound like, but the art (such as the Man, the Temple, and other burned art) we create every year for Burning Man, only to destroy it ?  The city itself is something that we expend so much labor on, only to destroy it - that we enjoy and put away.  Dia de los Muertos is about celebrating the duality of life, birth and death, destruction and creation, the fact that death is always a part of life and is something to be celebrated, along with those who have gone before. The same forces of creation and destruction are celebrated every year on the playa. The Temple itself has always reminded me of an ofrenda, a temporary altar of remembrance to those who have passed.

Our workshops will be adding to our ofrenda throughout the week, with the creation of papel picado, sugar skulls and mask decoration. If you would like to add anything else to the altar, something of personal significance to you, remembrance of a loved one who has passed, or an ephemeral piece of art of your own, please feel free to do so.  The dome that houses the altar will be open at all times for you to visit and add your offerings and celebrate with us. It will sometimes be a place of celebration, and other times a space to reflect in a relaxed atmosphere. I hope you will find the time to visit us at some point in your playa experience.