For decades, Guadalajara’s Feria de Carton (Day of the Dead market) in the Parque Morelos on the Calzada Independencia has been the place to go for economical holiday knick-knacks.
You won’t find artistic masterpieces here, rather simple traditional Dia de Muertos toys, candies and food so loved by Mexicans. If you can, try to ignore the shadow of Halloween that threatens to blight the spectacle.
- Miniature skeletons alluding to professions (calaveras de oficios) make great workplace gifts. 15-25 PESOS (above right).
- Day of the Dead bread (pan de muertos) is usually round and comes in various sizes. A 9-INCH LOAF: 25 PESOS (above left).
- Dozens of stalls in the market hawk the popular sugar coated or chocolate skeletons, which are can be decorated with a person’s name and given away as a gift. Various sizes, from tiny to large. 4-25 PESOS (right).
- Kids love the little cardboard coffins out of which pop skeletons. 10 PESOS (left).
- Colorful perforated crepe paper (papel picado) is used on altars or as a simple decoration. 2-4 PESOS A SHEET, DEPENDING ON SIZE (right).
- Cardboard dolls (muñecas de carton) are hugely popular. 12-35 PESOS (left).
- Hanging skeletons (calaveras colgantes) are often used as an adornment on car mirrors. 18 PESOS (right).
- For that friend or relative who is heavily into motorbikes, there’s only one gift. 15 PESOS (left).