Chris Dodkin
West Coast Correspondent
Down this neck of the woods, as well as the traditional Halloween celebrations I'm used to from Blighty, we also have the Dia De Los Muertos, from South of the Border.
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death.
It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate.
A ritual known today as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
We went up to the local Catholic Mission - Mission San Luis Rey - and joined in the celebration.
From the get go it was clear that there was nothing remotely morbid about the event - there were Mexican food stands, loud Mexican music, people in costume doing traditional dances, and about 20,000 people having a good time!
In the main courtyard at the Mission, there were a group of devils, wearing chaps, cracking whips as they danced to some crazy Mexican music...
No idea how they put up with the heat, or the deafening music!
In the parking lot were some of the most pimped out rides you've ever seen!
Including a nice pair... of wing mirrors!!
In the chapel, the candles were lit to remember the deceased...
And the cemetery wasn't taking pets..
And in the crowd, walking amongst us, were the dead...
It was one hell of a day
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death.
It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate.
A ritual known today as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
We went up to the local Catholic Mission - Mission San Luis Rey - and joined in the celebration.
From the get go it was clear that there was nothing remotely morbid about the event - there were Mexican food stands, loud Mexican music, people in costume doing traditional dances, and about 20,000 people having a good time!
In the main courtyard at the Mission, there were a group of devils, wearing chaps, cracking whips as they danced to some crazy Mexican music...
No idea how they put up with the heat, or the deafening music!
In the parking lot were some of the most pimped out rides you've ever seen!
Including a nice pair... of wing mirrors!!
In the chapel, the candles were lit to remember the deceased...
And the cemetery wasn't taking pets..
And in the crowd, walking amongst us, were the dead...
It was one hell of a day
