But there's one parade that is very unique to this region of our great country. It's called the All Souls Procession and it. is. AWESOME.
The All Souls Process is Tucson's take on Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. This day is meant for honoring those who have passed on and celebrating their life.
The people of Tucson get together and wear makeup resembling skeletons. Families bring their children, their pets, their friends. People make floats, dress up, walk on stilts, sometimes hold up signs protesting for a cause, and everyone is welcome to join in and walk in the parade. It's almost like an extended Halloween. Or so it appears.
There is a deeper meaning to this holiday that I didn't even realize. Participants in this parade are actually honoring those who've passed on. People carry pictures of their loved ones in memory. And among the drums and dancing and skeleton makeup there are actually people using this parade as a healing to celebrate and remember the lives that have touched them.
We were so lucky to have witnessed this parade. It's annual but I haven't gone in years. After this year's experience, and having come so close to the other side of the meaning of this parade, I have a deeper appreciation that goes further than beating drums and dancing skeletons.
But it is a beautifully creative parade. I got some pics. They aren't that great, but you get an idea of what I'm talking about.
Throughout the crowd, whether in the parade or not, people paint their faces in white with black stripes to resemble skeletons. If you look closely at the picture below you can see one of these skeletons looking at a text. Hey, skeletons text, too, alright!
Stilt People
The globe with the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon is actually a float, as is the taller sign to the right.
I was actually trying to take a picture of the large puppet of a man's head in the background. But the camera really focused on the women in front of me with the crazy hat. Yes, that's a big hat on her.
A lady from the parade with my Aunt Pam.
