Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life Fiesta

The Wellington Zapatista Solidarity Group invites you to join us for: Celebraciòn Día De Los Muertos - Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life .

Street Procession
Mariachi, music, food, face painting and a traditional ofrenda. Meet 4pm at Wellington Museum of City and Sea

Fiesta
With Bella Cajon, Koledsky, Café Tango, Newtown Community Choir, Sudakanz, DJoe, DJ Cut Loose. Plus tango lesson & demonstration with Viva Latina, spot prizes and more!
8pm til late at Ruby Lounge, Bond Street

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is an annual festival observed throughout Latin America originating in pre Columbian culture which celebrates life by honouring the dead. It's believed that on this day each year the spirits of the dead return to Earth to reconnect with the living, and re-experience the sensory world. Friends and family honour the deceased by celebrating in cemeteries, homes, and public spaces with food, flowers, music, and prayers. Colourful paper cut-outs called papel picado decorate churches and cemeteries. Fancy dress, especially skeletons and other deathly outfits, is the norm.

Ofrendas – or altars – often have a photo of the deceased, and are elaborately-decorated with flowers as well as objects, foods and drinks that the dead prized or enjoyed while they lived. It is believed that displaying their favourite things entices their souls to return to take part in the remembrance celebrations.

A traditional ofrenda will be on display at the Museum of Wellington City and all are invited to gather there from 4pm for face painting, music and food. A Mariachi will lead the procession, which will arrive at Ruby Lounge in time for the fiesta. Fancy dress is encouraged, as is colourful memorabilia of deceased loved ones.

This year the Ruby Lounge will host the celebrations: an evening of performances on the theme of life and death, from the gyp-hop-ruski-roots reggae of Bella Cajon, to the glorious harmonies of the Newtown Community Choir and Koledsky's rousing Gypsy, Polish, Mexican, and Middle-Eastern numbers.

Audience members are invited to take part in a short tango lesson with dancers from Viva Latina, and then show off their new moves on the dancefloor to the sound of urban Latin ensemble Café Tango.

But the party doesn't stop there. After the bands, DJs DJoe and Cut Loose will spin a heady mix of global beats to keep the dancefloor grooving till the wee hours.

All this for only $10 on the door, and all proceeds go direct to the Zapitista municipality of La Garrucha in Chiapas.

So bring your friends and join us for a celebration of life, death, and beautiful music!

More info about the Wellington Zapatista Solidarity Group at: http://www.floweroftheword.wordpress.com