THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: DAY OF THE DEAD! RICARDO ROMO’S TEJANO REPORT ON DAY OF THE DEAD IN 2022. AMALIA MESA BAINS ON THE MEANING OF DAY OF THE DEAD, ROSE PORTILLO ON DAY OF THE DEAD, AND JOSÉ UMPIERRE ON “A DIOS ROGANDO Y CON EL MAZO DANDO” AND THE NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT PUERTO RICO.
This week Latinopia celebrates El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which is quickly becoming our new national holiday in Latino and Mexican communities throughout the Southwest. We begin with an essay by Ricardo Romo as part of his Tejano Report giving us an update on the holiday as it is celebrated in cities like Los Angeles and San Antonio.
Next installation artist Amalia Mesa Bains gives us a historical overview of the Day of the Dead tradition in a video that goes back to its roots in Mexico. Complementing we reprint a previous 2019 guest blog by artist, director and actress Rose Portillo whose yearly Day of the Dead celebrations at her home continue to be legendary. Rose gives us her reflective take on Dia de los Muertos which includes a look at the link to the Irish traditions.
And, last but not least, José Umpierre, el Zocotroco, weighs in on the recent and new documentary about the history of Puerto Rio narrated by Power of the Rings break out actor Ismael Cruz Cordova. It turns out the Banco Popular, which financed the production, finally did something right.
Enjoy your scary week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia