The first Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebration this newspaper reported on was in 1964, nine months after its founding in December 1963.
Interestingly, this was exactly a decade after the Day of the Dead market (Feria del Cartón y del Juguete) in Guadalajara’s Parque Morelos began, selling all manner of traditional foods, toys, trinkets, materials for altars, and other items related to the holiday.
Seventy years later, the market is still going strong, located on Calle San Diego, which borders the northern side of the park. It opened on October 15 and runs until December 31 (transforming into a Christmas market after Day of the Dead), with hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This year’s market features more than 170 vendors.
Vendors at the handicraft stalls sell various representations of La Catrina, the skeletal lady of the dead who epitomizes the holiday, in all colors and sizes. Edible offerings include the traditional sweet “bread of the dead” (pan de los muertos) and candy skulls, which can be personalized with the names of loved ones.In recent years, Day of the Dead items have been joined by Halloween-themed products, causing some tension among those who feel the two traditions should remain distinct.