This is a spectacular time of year to be in Oaxaca. The streets are filled with music, parades, costumes, tourists, and cars. It can take 30 minutes to get through the historic district in a taxi. There is excitement and energy in the air with preparations for when beloved departed will return to earth to visit and those who remember them honor their memory. Altars are everywhere: in restaurants, hotels, homes, in street vendors’ stalls, shops and tiendas. Every one is a work of art, incorporating food, drink, photos of the departed, bright marigold flowers, and special touches applied by each creator. At Restaurante Azucena at the San Martin Tilcajete crossroads, the altar used the seven varieties of indigenous corn, yellow-orange marigolds, sugar skulls, and the light of many votives. Bamboo fronds form the arch from which to hang fruit, bread, and chocolate. On Sunday, we will go to Teotitlan to participate in the family ritual of decorating the altar, the center of religious and spiritual home life. Today, we will accompany the family to the Abastos market to shop for all the goodies.
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Norma writes for Selvedge Magazine
Issue #109 -- Rise Up, November 2022
Norma Writes for Selvedge Latin Issue #89
Why We Left, Expat Anthology: Norma’s Personal Essay
Norma Contributes Two Chapters!
- Norma Schafer and Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC has offered programs in Mexico since 2006. We have over 30 years of university program development experience. See my resume.
Study Toursd are personally curated and introduce you to Mexico's greatest artisans. They are off-the-beaten path, internationally recognized. We give you access to where people live and work. Yes, it is safe and secure to travel. Groups are limited in size for the most personal experience.
Programs can be scheduled to meet your travel plans. Send us your available dates.
Designers, retailers, wholesalers, universities and other organizations come to us to develop weaving relationships, customized itineraries, study abroad programs, meetings and conferences. It's our pleasure to make arrangements.
Select Clients *Selvedge Magazine-London, UK *Esprit Travel and Tours *Penland School of Crafts *North Carolina State University *WARP Weave a Real Peace *Methodist University *MINNA-Goods *Smockingbird Kids
Tell us how we can put a program together for you! Send an email norma.schafer@icloud.com
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