NOVEMBER 2ND IS SACRED IN THE AMERICAS AMONG CHICANOS IN LOS ANGELES, DESCENDENTS OF AZTECS IN MEXICO CITY AND ZAPOTECS IN OAXACA.

DECEASED SOULS ARE BELIEVED TO RETURN FOR A FEW HOURS TO JOIN THEIR LOVED ONES WHO WELCOME THEM WITH PARADES, ART, FAMILY ALTARS AND DECORATED GRAVE SITES.

THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

FUNDING FOR IN THE AMERICAS WITH DAVID YETMAN WAS PROVIDED BY AGNES HAURY.

[MUSIC] DEATH IS TO BE CELEBRATED, NOT FEARED.

THIS WAS A BELIEF IN ANCIENT AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS FROM PERU TO MEXICO.

600 YEARS AGO AZTEC LEGIONS FORGED THEIR WAY SOUTH FROM CENTRAL MEXICO BUT OVER 1,000 YEARS BEFORE THE AZTEC FORCES ARRIVED ZAPOTECS AT OAXACA WERE WELCOMING BACK THEIR DEAD ONE DAY EACH YEAR WITH SPLENDID CELEBRATIONS.

TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF THE DEAD WE MUST GO BACK IN HISTORY NEARLY THREE MILLENNIA.

MORE THAN 2,500 YEARS AGO ZAPOTECS GAINED POWER IN SOUTHERN MEXICO.

THEY BUILT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF MONTE ALBAN AND RETAINED POWER FOR ANOTHER 2,000 YEARS UNTIL THEY WERE OVERTHROWN BY THE AZTECS.

THE AZTECS WITHDREW BUT THE ZAPOTECS REMAINED.

ONE OF THEIR DESCENDENTS WHO HAS GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT TO ZAPOTECAN TRADITIONS.

THIS CULTURE IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CULTURES WHERE DEATH LEADS TO A PUNISHMENT FOR ALL SINS THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED.

IN THIS CULTURE IT IS A LIFE OF HAPPINESS.

FOR US THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS LIFE AND THE AFTERLIFE.

THE DECEASED CAN COME BACK TO EARTH LIKE THE ADULTS DO ON NOVEMBER 2ND AND THE ANGELITOS OR THE LITTLE ANGELS ON NOVEMBER 1ST.

IF WE THINK ABOUT THE MEXICAS, THE AZTECS, WE WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND.

THE MONKS STUDIED THEIR CULTURE IN THE 16TH CENTURY WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN MEXICO.

FROM THEM WE KNOW FOR EXAMPLE THAT MEXICANS COMPARED HUMMINGBIRDS WITH WARRIORS WHO COULD COME BACK TO LIFE AND ENJOY THE NECTAR FROM THE FLOWERS.

SO THERE WERE DIFFERENT WAYS TO COME BACK TO THIS LIFE AND ENJOY SOME MOMENTS IN THIS WORLD, PERHAPS NOT AS A HUMMINGBIRD BUT AS A BODY THAT ALLOWS THE SPIRIT TO ENJOY NAGUALISM, THE SPIRIT OF THE AZTECS.

ONE OF THE LARGEST HISPANIC PUEBLOS IN THE WORLD IS LOS ANGELES.

IT HAS FIVE MILLION PEOPLE OF MEXICAN DESCENT.

CALIFORNIANS CONTINUE THE TRADITIONS THEY AND THEIR ANCESTORS BROUGHT FROM MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

I REMEMBER AS A KID WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD SAY IN SPANISH, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE LIKE SO SCARY, LIKE A DAY OF THE DEAD.

WE'RE USED TO HALLOWEEN BUT IT'S REALLY A CELEBRATION OF THE DEAD.

[SINGING] EVERY MEXICAN CITY HAS ITS OWN PECULIAR LOS ANGELES HAS ITS OWN REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S A COMPETITION FOR WHO CAN CONSTRUCT THE BEST ALTAR.

THE STREETS ARE COVERED WITH ALTARS, EVERY SIDE.

MOST OF THEM ARE DEDICATED TO LOVED ONES, SPECIFIC LOVED ONES, AND HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.

THEY MUST ALL HAVE YELLOW FLOWERS, PRIMARILY MARIGOLDS, HAVE CANDLES.

THEY HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE LOVED ONES, THE DEPARTED LOVED ONES, AND SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE THINGS; MUSIC, FOOD, ESPECIALLY A BREAD CALLED PAN DE MUERTO WHICH IS BREAD SPECIALLY MADE FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

SOME OF THEM EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO HAVE INCENSE.

I'VE GOT DAD, I'VE GOT GRANDMA'S, I'VE GOT A BABY THAT WAS LOST SO THAT'S WHAT MY ALTAR IS ABOUT, JUST CELEBRATING LOVE, THE LOVE THAT WE SHARED.

THIS IS SET UP FOR MY UNCLE RICHARD WHO RECENTLY PASSED IN JULY.

I GOT TOGETHER WITH MY COUSINS, ALL HIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS, HIS GODSON.

WE DECIDED TO HONOR HIM IN THIS WAY.

WE TRIED TO CAPTURE HIS PERSONALITY AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

HE WAS A CLEAN FREAK.

HE WAS MR. CLEAN, THAT'S WHY WE WENT WITH THE CLOROX AND MR. CLEAN.

SHE WOULD ALWAYS DRINK COFFEE AND WHEN I SMELL COFFEE I THINK ABOUT HER, COFFEE AND SWEET BREAD, THAT WAS THE ONE THING.

AND EVEN MY MOM AND US NOW WE STILL DO IT.

LIKE ALWAYS THE COFFEE AND THE SWEET BREAD AT 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON IS A MUST.

ONE THING WE CAN TELL ABOUT THIS DEAD PERSON WAS THAT THEY LOVED TO RIDE ON A HORSE AND THE BUTTERFLY COMING BACK TO REST ON THE WATERMELON SUGGESTS THAT HE REALLY LIKED WATERMELON.

WE KIND OF LIKE FEEL LIKE WHEN PEOPLE PASS THEY TURN INTO BUTTERFLIES.

WE HAVE PICTURES OF OUR FAMILY THAT HAVE PASSED AND THEY ALL HAVE BUTTERFLY WINGS ON.

IT'S OUR FAMILY COMING BACK TO CHECK ON US AND TO LET US KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE.

[DRUMMING] WHEN SPANIARDS ARRIVED IN THE AMERICAS, NATIVE PEOPLES DID NOT MAKE A SHARP DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD AND ONE DAY EACH YEAR THEY BELIEVED THAT THEIR ANCESTORS RETURNED TO BE AMONG THEM.

DESPITE A PRESSURE FROM THE CHURCH, THAT CUSTOM CONTINUED AMONG MEXICANS.

MANY OF THEM BROUGHT THE CUSTOM TO THE UNITED STATES AND TODAY IT REMAINS A VIBRANTLY ACTIVE CUSTOM AND FESTIVAL HERE AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA.

[DRUMMING CONTINUES] FROM LOS ANGELES IT'S A SHORT 1700 MILES TO MEXICO CITY, ONCE THE CENTER OF THE AZTEC EMPIRE.

ALL ROADS IN MEXICO CITY LEAD TO THE ZÓCALO, MEXICO'S CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CENTER.

MANY OF THE CAPITAL'S 20 PLUS MILLION RESIDENTS REGULARLY VISIT THE ZÓCALO AS MEXICANS DID LONG BEFORE SPANIARDS ARRIVED.

IN THE CAPITAL, ON THE DAYS LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER 2ND, THERE'S A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

THEY EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO CREATE A TEMPORARY PANTEÓN OR CEMETERY.

INSIDE YOU CAN FIND EVERY FORM OF ART.

WE FIND SCULPTURE, SOME OF IT ON A MASSIVE SCALE, GROUND MURALS, DANCING, OFTEN FANTASTICO, AND EXPRESSIONS OF RECENTLY DECEASED WRITERS, ARTISTS, CELEBRITIES AND CULTURAL ICONS.

DAY OF THE DEAD IS IMPORTANT IN MEXICO CITY, IT'S A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, BUT IN OAXACA, 350 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST, THE CELEBRATION AFFECTS EVERY PERSON AND FAMILY.

IN SPITE OF A FOOT INJURY, I COULD NOT STAY AWAY.

THE CITY OF OAXACA, WITH GOOD REASON, SUPPORTS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

IN THIS CASE THEY BRING IN TONS OF SAND RIGHT INTO THE PLAZA AND ARTISTS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE BEST DAY OF THE DEAD SAND SCULPTURE.

THESE SAND PAINTINGS ARE USED DURING THE RAISING OF THE CROSS.

WHEN SOMEONE DIES, THEIR FAMILY PRAYS FOR NINE DAYS.

40 OR 50 YEARS AGO THE DEATH OF AN INDIVIDUAL WAS A HUGE EVENT, LESS SO NOW.

THE PRAYER SESSION BEGINS AT NIGHT AND DURING THE FIRST NIGHT OF PRAYER THE CUSTOM IS TO PRAY ALL NIGHT LONG UNTIL THE BODY IS TAKEN TO BE BURIED.

THEN FOOD HAS TO BE PREPARED SUCH AS CHOCOLATE, COFFEE AND BREAD, ALL DEPENDING ON AVAILABLE FINANCES AND DURING THE NINE DAYS OF THE WAKE A GROUND PAINTING IS CREATED, A CARPET OF COLORED SAND.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN THE CREATION OF THESE CARPETS.

THIS CONVOY OF SKULLS SEEMS TO BE PECULIARLY OAXACAN BUT THE CITY FATHERS AND MOTHERS HAVE CREATED THIS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION COMPETITION SO THE SKULL IS GIVEN AND IT'S UP TO THE ARTIST TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT AND BETTER THAN ANY OTHER.

THIS SKULL IS RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.

IT'S GOT ROOTS, LEAVES AND FOR EYES OR EYE SOCKETS IT'S GOT BROKEN PIECES OF MIRROR.

IT'S AS IF THE SKULL IS JUST RECENTLY EXCAVATED.

[BAND MUSIC] IT'S ALSO A TIME OF ALMOST CONSTANT COSTUME PARADES.

ONLY A FEW DECADES AGO THE CELEBRATION WAS CONFINED MOSTLY TO THE SMALL TOWNS WHERE THE FLOWERS GROW.

THERE ARE TWO FLOWERS IN MEXICO AND ESPECIALLY OAXACA THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DAY OF THE DEAD.

THE CEMPASÚCHIL OR MARIGOLD AND THIS ROSE COLORED FLOWER UP HERE THAT IS KNOWN AS CRESTO DE GALLO, ROOSTER'S CREST.

ALL THESE FLOWERS WILL BE CUT AND ARE DESTINED TO WIND UP ON PEOPLE'S ALTARS AND IN CEMETERIES.

42% OF THE POPULATION IN THE STATE OF OAXACA IS INDIGENOUS.

THE INDIGENOUS ELEMENT IS MOST IMPORTANT DURING THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

THIS IS OAXACA'S CENTRAL DE ABASTO, ITS SUPPLY CENTER.

THIS IS WHERE THE PEOPLE OF OAXACA COME TO SHOP.

THERE ARE THREE SPECIAL THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH DAY OF THE DEAD.

THERE IS THE COPAL, THE INCENSE, THERE ARE THE FLOWERS AND THERE IS THE PAN DE MUERTO, THE SPECIAL BREAD THAT IS MADE FOR DAY OF THE DEAD.

IT HAS A DECORATION AND IT'S ONLY MADE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THIS IS COPAL, INCENSE.

IT'S ACTUALLY FRANKINCENSE FROM THE BURSERA TREE.

THE GUM IS GATHERED, SCRAPED TOGETHER IN THESE LITTLE GLOBS AND THEN IT'S BURNED OVER CHARCOAL.

IT'S USED IN CHURCHES BUT PEOPLE ALSO LOVE TO BURN IT IN THEIR ALTARS.

IT'S HIGHLY AROMATIC.

NOBODY CAN RESIST SUGAR CANE, PARTICULARLY SOMEBODY WHOSE EXPERT AT CUTTING IT.

A LITTLE PILE WILL COST YOU 15 PESOS OR ABOUT $1.25.

IN ADDITION, PEOPLE USE THE ENTIRE STALK FOR THE ALTARS IN THEIR HOUSES.

IF YOU FIGURE THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN OAXACA AREA AND EVERY ONE OF THEM IS PART OF A FAMILY THAT NEEDS TO HAVE FLOWERS FOR THEIR HOME ALTARS AND FOR THE GRAVEYARDS, THAT ADDS UP TO A LOT OF FLOWERS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN MAKING THESE CANDIES JUST FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AND THEY MAKE GREAT GIFTS.

THEY'RE MUCH MORE INTERESTING THAN HALLOWEEN CANDY AND THEY ALL HAVE THE THEME OF THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

THE DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATIONS USED TO BE HELD MOSTLY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.

THE COUNTRY PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS, MIGRATED TO LARGE CITIES SUCH AS THE CAPITAL CITY OF OAXACA.

THE ALTAR TO THE DEAD IS UNDISPUTEDLY THE GREATEST TRADITION OF THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

THIS TRADITION COMES FROM THE PRE-HISPANIC ERA.

OUR FOREFATHERS PASSED ON THESE TRADITIONS.

HERE IN THE CENTER IS MY MOTHER, HERE IS MY HUSBAND, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT US HERE ON EARTH.

ON THIS DAY THEY RETURN AND WE WELCOME THEM WITH OFFERINGS OF ALL THE THINGS THEY ENJOYED ON EARTH.

EACH ITEM HAS ITS SIGNIFICANCE.

THE FLOWERS AND THE COPAL ARE THE LIGHT, THE AIR AND THE COLOR THAT INVITES THEM BACK THROUGH SMELL AND APPEARANCE.

FOOD LIKE MOLÉ AND CHOCOLATE, THAT'S WHAT THEY ENJOY, AND OF COURSE BEER, SOME MEZCAL, WATER FOR THEIR JOURNEY BECAUSE THEY COME FROM FAR AWAY WITH MANY EXPECTATIONS WHEN THEY REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS IS A MOMENT TO EMBRACE THEM, HOLD THEM CLOSE TO US AND IF THERE IS A MATTER THAT WAS NOT RESOLVED BETWEEN US, IT IS A TIME FOR RESOLUTION OR TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.

OUR ALTAR HAS SIX LEVELS.

THE LOWEST LEVEL TAKES US UP TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL REPRESENTING THE HEAVENS.

THE SECOND TO THE LAST LEVEL IS LIKE BEING IN PURGATORY BEFORE REACHING THE HEAVENS, FROM THE EARTH TO THE CIELO, THE HEAVENS.

OAXACA IS THE PLACE WHERE THE MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS TO THE U.S.

ORIGINATE BUT MANY OF THEM COME BACK AND THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT FOR WHICH THEY RETURN IS ON THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

I BELIEVE THAT IF THE DEAD CAME BACK FROM EVEN FARTHER AWAY PLACES, IT SHOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF SOMEONE IS ACROSS THE BORDER IN THE U.S.

SO THE DISTANCE REALLY SHOULDN'T MATTER.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO PARTICIPATE.

THE FESTIVAL SURROUNDING THE DAY OF THE DEAD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FIESTA.

IT'S THE MEETING PLACE WHERE WE ARE ALL REUNITED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY, LOS DIFUNTOS.

THIS PATHWAY IS THE PASSAGE FOR THE SOULS.

THIS IS WHERE THEY ENTER AND ALSO WHERE THEY LEAVE TO RETURN TO THEIR RESTING PLACE.

THE CROSSES ARE MADE IN DIFFERENT STYLES.

HERE WE CHOSE TO MAKE IT OUT OF FLOWERS.

OTHERS MAKE IT OUT OF SAND.

THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF OUR LOVED ONES ARE PLACED HERE, ALONG WITH THE FOOD AND DRINK THEY LIKED.

HERE WE HAVE THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THOSE THAT SUPPOSEDLY ARE BETWEEN WORLDS.

THAT'S WHY THEY CAN RETURN AND ENJOY THE BOUNTY OF THE EARTH WE PLACE ON THE ALTAR.

DAY OF THE DEAD IS CELEBRATED BOTH IN PRIVATE FAMILY ALTARS AND IN THE PUBLIC CEMETERIES.

THESE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING TO VISIT THEIR FAMILY GRAVES LIKE STUFF TO EAT, THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY AND SELL SO IT'S A MARKETPLACE.

I'LL SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.

[MUSIC] THE CITY OF OAXACA HAS THREE LARGE CEMETERIES.

THIS IS THE GENERAL CEMETERY AND IT IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST OF THE THREE.

ON MY LEFT ARE INDIVIDUAL CRYPTS DATING BACK 200, 300 YEARS.

BUT TO THE RIGHT ARE THE MORE GENERAL GRAVES AND FAMILIES ARE COMING IN AND BEGINNING TO DECORATE THEIR FAMILY ALTARS.

THE PROCEDURE IS PRETTY WELL ESTABLISHED, MUCH LIKE RITUALS IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT CHRISTMAS, VERY SPECIFIC WHAT THE FAMILIES DO AND THEY TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF DELIGHT AND PRIDE IN HAVING THE BEST, MOST DECORATIVE ALTAR.

THE FIRST DAY IS DEDICATED TO THE INNOCENT CHILDREN, THE ANGELITOS, THE LITTLE ANGELS AS WE CALL THEM.

THE SECOND DAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, IS RESERVED FOR THE ADULTS, THE SINNERS.

THE DAY OF THE DEAD IS THE DAY OF VISITS TO THE CEMETERY AND A VISITATION IN MASS.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS PART OF THE INDIGENOUS CULTURE OF OAXACA TRANSFORMS THE CEMETERIES INTO A COMMON MEETING PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO ON A CONTINUAL BASIS CONNECTED TO THE DEAD.

MANY GATHER IN THE CEMETERIES ON BIRTHDAYS TO CONTINUE THE MEMORY.

SO WHEN WE VISIT THE DEAD, WE REMEMBER THEM AND THEY BECOME ALIVE, PRESENT.

THE MOMENT THAT WE DON'T REMEMBER THEM NOR SPEAK TO THEM, THAT'S THE MOMENT WHEN THEY ARE FORGOTTEN.

[SINGING] THE DAY OF THE DEAD ISN'T JUST REALLY ONE DAY FOR THE CEREMONY.

IT'S A PERIOD OF TIME AT THE END OF OCTOBER, BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.

THE CORN HARVEST IS IN, THE MARIGOLDS ARE BLOOMING AND IT'S JUST NATURAL THAT AT THAT TIME PEOPLE START THINKING ABOUT THEIR DEAD ANCESTORS AND IT'S A SPECIAL TIME HERE.

WE SEE THE GRAVES HERE ADORNED.

THEY GET MORE AND MORE FLOWERS ON THEM.

FAMILIES COME IN BRINGING CHAIRS, THEY BRING FOOD, THEY BRING MUSICIANS.

YOU'LL SEE BUCKETS OF WATER BEING BROUGHT IN AND THOSE ARE FOR CLEANING THE GRAVE.

THE WHOLE THING AMOUNTS TO A GREAT FAMILY TIME AND THEY PLAN TO SPEND TODAY, DAY OF THE DEAD, THE WHOLE TIME IN THE CEMETERY HAVING A GOOD TIME SINGING, REMEMBERING THEIR ANCESTORS AND REALIZING THAT LIFE JUST DOESN'T END WITH DEATH BUT CONTINUES FOREVER.

[MUSIC] MOST COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE CITIES CELEBRATE IN THEIR OWN DISTINCT FASHION.

A FEW MILES FROM THE CITY OF OAXACA, THIS IS THE TOWN OF IXTLAN AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF DAY OF THE DEAD.

ON THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY HAVE SEVERAL BARRIOS OR NEIGHBORHOODS IN IXTLAN AND EACH OF THEM FORMS THEIR OWN PARADE ROUTE, THEY FIX THEIR OWN COSTUMES, THEY GET THEIR OWN BAND.

IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT AND THEY ALL THEN PARADE IN AND OUT OF HOMES AND UP THE STREET AND WIND UP HERE AT THE CHURCH.

VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING ELSE IN THE VALLEY OF OAXACA AND IT STAMPS THIS PLACE WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL EFFORT DURING DAY OF THE DEAD.

THE COMPARSAS OF THE TOWN OF IXTLAN HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME.

SOME AREAS ARE STILL MORE TRADITIONAL, CELEBRATED THROUGH CERTAIN FIGURES AND OTHER AREAS HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE OUTSIDE.

[BAND MUSIC] THE DAY OF THE DEAD IN THE TOWN OF IXTLAN HAS BECOME MORE LIKE A HALLOWEEN PARTY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I ASKED A RESIDENT HERE TO DESCRIBE WHAT WAS GOING ON HE SAID, "IT'S HALLOWEEN."

BUT IT ISN'T.

THIS IS ALL SOULS' DAY AND TOMORROW IS DAY OF THE DEAD.

SO WE SEE A MELDING OF A NEW TRADITION WITH AN OLD ONE.

SO IXTLAN HAS BROUGHT IN HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FROM ABROAD, IT'S MADE IT INTO A KIND OF A DISNEYLAND ATMOSPHERE AND YET SOMEHOW THE PEOPLE THINK IT'S TERRIFIC.

THEY STILL HAVE THEIR OLD OOMPAH BANDS WHICH MAKE ANY FESTIVAL A REAL FESTIVAL.

[BAND MUSIC] THE COMPARSA OR COSTUMED PARADE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEAD PEOPLE TO HAVE FUN IN THIS WORLD.

TO COME BACK THEY WILL NEED A PHYSICAL BODY.

THE COMPARSA BEGINS AT THE PANTEÓN OR CEMETERY WHERE THE DEAD LEAVE THEIR TOMBS AND MOVE INTO REAL BODIES WEARING COSTUMES READY TO INCORPORATE.

THEY PARADE OUT OF THE PANTEÓN AND BEGIN VISITING HOUSES AND SPACES WHERE THEY MAY HAVE MEMORIES AS A CHILD OR AS AN ADULT.

A FULL CIRCLE IS COMPLETED WHEN AT THE END OF THE FESTIVITIES THE DIFUNTOS, THE DEAD, GO BACK TO THEIR TOMBS, TIRED, EXHAUSTED.

THE SOULS LEAVE THE BORROWED BODIES AND THE BEARERS OF THE COSTUMES RETURN TO THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE.

I'M STANDING IN SAN FELIPE CEMETERY.

IT'S A SMALLER, NEIGHBORHOOD TYPE CEMETERY.

IT'S ONLY ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS ON THE SIDE BUT THE PEOPLE ARE STILL ARRIVING AND IT'S A SOFT EVENING AND THE SOFT MEXICAN VOICES VERY PERFECTLY BLEND IN WITH THE IDEA OF THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

THEY'RE ATTENDING THEIR GRAVES, THEY ARE LIGHTING CANDLES, THEY'RE HAVING A VERY GOOD TIME TALKING, REMINISCING AND ENJOYING THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THE MEMORY OF THEIR DEAD ANCESTORS.

[SINGING] THE DAY OF THE DEAD IS ALMOST OVER.

IN A FEW HOURS THE PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO LEAVE, THE FLOWERS ARE BEGINNING TO WITHER, THE CANDLES WILL GO OUT, THE LIGHTS WILL DIM, THE CEMETERY WILL BE CLOSED.

BUT FOR OAXACANS THE DAY OF THE DEAD IS NOT JUST A DAY.

FOR THEM, IT'S AN ANNUAL CYCLE AND TOMORROW, ALTHOUGH THE FLOWERS WILL BE GONE, THEY WILL TAKE DOWN THEIR ALTARS, THE CYCLE WILL CONTINUE AND THEY WILL PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR'S EVENT, EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

ONE NEWLY FAMOUS AMAZONIAN FRUIT CAN BE FOUND ONLY HERE, ACAÍ.

IT HAS MADE RECLUSIVE RIVER PEOPLE INTO ENTREPRENEURS AND BOAT PEOPLE INTO MERCHANTS.

TO FIND IT GROWING WE MUST PENETRATE THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF NATIVES IN THE LABYRINTHINE MOUTH OF THE AMAZON.

JOIN US NEXT TIME IN THE AMERICAS WITH ME, DAVID YETMAN.

THE MASK LADY IS THE ARTIST LIZ SAUNDERS DOING HER MAGIC ON LYNN FOWLER TO WHOM I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING MARRIED.

I HAVE NIECES HERE, A BROTHER, A SISTER, A GRANDSON AND MANY, MANY FRIENDS OF FRIENDS AND THIS HAS BECOME DECORATION CENTRAL IN PREPARATION FOR THE PROCESSION.

FUNDING FOR IN THE AMERICAS WITH DAVID YETMAN WAS PROVIDED BY AGNES HAURY.

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