Day of the Dead display offers alternative to 'Spooky' Halloween exhibits

JACKSON, Mich. – At 312 S. Bowen St. an unlikely group of celebrities have formed in a front yard. The prince of Pop is next to the King of Rock and Roll, and on the other side of the driveway Mexican artist Frida Kahlo shares space with Diego Rivera.

Of course they're not all alive, but fully dressed skeletons meant to celebrate the Mexican holiday, The Day of the Dead. 

The yard, skeletons, and idea for the large display belong to Jesús Castillo, a tailor born in central Mexico. He started the set up in his yard five years ago.

"You see my skeletons and you are not afraid, you're happy," Castillo said.

Castillo wanted to educate people about the Mexican holiday, which is a mix of indigenous and Catholic traditions in his native country. He says the holiday is unlike Halloween since it's not scary or spooky.

"On the day of the dead the people celebrate the life," he said.

Bright colors on dresses and suits are worn by skeletons, which represent six different Mexican states, and those on the American celebrity side are in bold recognizable outfits. Rainbow arrays of flags are also strung across the front yard with yellow zinnias at the foot of fake tombs.

The zinnias are a stand in for marigolds that are used to guide for the spirit to the tomb Castillo said. He mentioned that the spirits would visit the grave sites where deceased family members consume food and drink offered by the living. The food won't actually disappear he said, but many who eat the offering later say the food has no taste or nutritional benefit.

Music, burned incense, lit candles and whatever the spirit liked while they were living are offered by the surviving family members.

While Castillo has the display up before and during Halloween, it is not up on the actual Day of the Dead holiday Nov. 1 and 2. Castillo said in his first year he left it up overnight on all Hallows' Eve, and teenagers tore up the displays and trashed it, so after candy is given out at ten o'clock he starts to dismantle the display.

He said he was very disgruntled after that first year, but he thought about how many people he made happy.

"Every one gets excited, and that makes me more excited and I want make the next year better."

He said he hopes in the future he'll host a party for everyone to enjoy on the Day of the Dead. 

In the meantime kids and adults come to see the mix of cultural traditions. Castillo estimated that over 500 children lined up last Halloween to look at it, and he expects even more this year.

Originally published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on Oct. 30, 2014