The ‘Dia de los Muertos’ at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Photos and Story by Amelia Moore

There is no way to describe the excitement of walking with a group of strangers, dressed as skeletons, through a blackened graveyard containing the decrepit remains of Hollywood’s best and brightest, toward an array of colored lights, smells of frying foods, thick drum beats that shake the cemetery ground and exotic voices that appear to transcend from another plane of existence.  This is the ‘Dia de los Muertos’, Day of the Dead, at the Hollywood Forever cemetery, a night of magic where the living and the dead can come together in remembrance and celebration of what was, is and shall be.

The Dia de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever cemetery, which celebrated it’s tenth anniversary this year, was originally started with the intention of providing an authentic venue, in which this ancient tradition could be genuinely observed, celebrated and preserved. Artists from both the Mexico and the United States are invited to participate in this sacred event by creating meticulously individually crafted altars and spiritual shrines to pay tributes and offerings, which provide a linkage between ancient traditions and modern customs.

Ordinarily, walking through massive graveyards at night might be a bit spooky, but the purpose of the Day of the Dead is to joyfully walk hand in hand with the recollections of the spirits to which one pays tribute. The experience serves as a transcendent porthole to visit people one has always wanted to, but cannot, due to the whole dead thing. At the event thousands of people painted as skeletons wander about in the cemetery eating traditional foods, enjoying the music and dancing provided by three stages located throughout the grounds, purchasing Mexican folk art, and occasionally imbibing inebriants.

Individual guests at the event are able to express themselves through the skeleton face makeup they apply when attending.  Traditionally, individuals and families adorn their faces with crosses, flowers, large grinning mouths and dark, inset eyes, but the modern practice of this face painting has evolved to display far more complex cranial décor. Tattoo artists, painters, designers, and excitable gothic fanatics have made this traveling eye candy of the event. Do not feel left out if you show up bare faced though, there are many booths set-up in the folk art area where professionals of ranging talents can provide appropriate facial decor.  Come one, come all, the spirits are waiting for you.