Welcome to the Weekend Update for November 15, 2008!

As we turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving and Christmas (shudder!), Weekend Update takes a look back at some events that took place during the Halloween period. MickeyMaxx and sir clinksalot give us a look at a unique tradition, Dia de los Muertos. For those of you who didn't get enough frights on Halloween, SummerInFL shows us a Halloween scarefest at Busch Gardens Africa. And if you think Christmas decorations go up early in the U.S., take a look at what TDLFAN found in Paris last week. Finally, Ian Parkinson ends his Adriatic Adventure in Gibraltar.

First up, we have a photo essay by MickeyMaxx, who takes us to the eighth annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration in our hometown of Oceanside, California.


Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Oceanside, California


The Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration held annually in Oceanside, California by MainStreet Oceanside has become more popular every year. Oceanside's event is a combination of Oaxacan traditions and a Southern California street fair. To be sure, there are good foods to eat, talented musicians and dancers, and exotic hand crafted goods to be purchased, but a great deal of the traditional celebration prevails, and one cannot help being moved by this loving tradition.

Something that becomes obvious in very short order is that this holiday is not all about mourning and being sad, but also is about celebrating the lives of the people we have lost. Viva la Vida . . . Live the Life!

Festive music plays all day long and traditional dancers perform.

Food and craft vendors set up around the Oceanside Civic Center complex.

Colorful papel picado (hand cut out paper banners) are in evidence everywhere, adding to the feeling of the fiesta.

Most of the merchandise is very specific to this event.

Families build Ofrendas, or shrines to their loved ones. Each shrine is unique, and is made up of photos of the person, and other items they loved when they were alive, like foods, musical instruments, and other memorabilia relating to their life. Nearly all will include Pan de Muerta, a special, slightly sweet Mexican bread that is baked just for this holiday. They also include the traditional flower of the event, marigolds.

One of the most touching parts of our local celebration is the Chalk Cemetery. In Mexico, much of the traditional Dia de los Muertos celebration takes place in the local graveyard. In an effort to replicate that experience, attendees are welcomed to create a tribute to departed loved ones along the entire pedestrian promenade known as Art Alley. They are provided chalk, a candle and marigolds by MainStreet. One cannot get more than a few feet into this beautiful project without being deeply moved.

People who are unfamiliar with this culture often think that Dia de los Muertos is somehow morose and macabre. Participating in the Chalk Cemetery often helps people understand that this is a celebration of life.

A few years ago legendary Disney Imagineer Roland "Rolly" Crump was very active in volunteering for the Oceanside Dia event. He created the theme artwork used in all the advertising that year and had an entire gallery full of his paintings and sculptures created just for the event. Rick and I were lucky to work with him on the event and to purchase the original theme painting you see behind us.


For more information on the Oceanside Dia de los Muertos event: Dia de los Muertos




This is the second year that Disneyland has paid tribute to this unique multicultural celebration by devoting an area near the Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant to Dia de los Muertos. sir clinksalot documents the Disney version of this celebration.


Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Frontierland, Disneyland






SummerInFL shares some photos of her trip to Busch Gardens Africa's Howl-o-Scream event.






The mascots for this year were the Raven Twins, we got to see them "slaughter" some unlucky fellow on the way out.



Disneyland Resort Paris
Paris, France

Now that we have had a look at some Halloween festivities, let's take a look at the Christmas decorations at Disneyland Paris, courtesy of our international bon vivant and correspondent extraordinaire, TDLFAN.

Christmas has arrived at Disneyland Paris! Entering the park, we are greeted by snowmen.




Christmas Tree on Main Street USA.


Town Square has become a winter wonderland.





Photo spot has been set. Santa Goofy appears here at certain times in the day.




Tink inside a holiday decorated Emporium.


Once Upon a Dream Parade performs with special Christmas finale. Here is the Alice in Wonderland section of the parade.


The Princesses and their men.


Toy Soldiers march.


Santa's helpers... complete with snow showers over Main Street.


Santa Claus himself.


Holiday decor in Fantasyland.


Canopy of Christmas lights inside the Bella Notte restaurant.


Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant, at dusk.


Le Chateau decorated for the holidays.


Lovely chandelieres light up on Main Street USA for the season...


Over at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the newly re-opened terminal 2 welcomes travelers. This is known as the "Terminal of Death" by many airline staff members. The section of the terminal seen on the photo below collapsed a couple of years ago, killing a few dozen travelers. Now re-built and re-opened, the terminal is very spacious and welcoming.






This is the last stop on our wonderful Adriatic Adventure with Ian Parkinson. Special thanks are due to Ian for sharing his incredible journey with us. I can hardly wait to see what part of the world he will wander to next!

Gibraltar






And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:

Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
A very special thank you to our wonderful guest photographer Ian Parkinson for sharing his vision with us.
Your Editor - Rixter

Where have YOU been recently? We invite you to share your photos of theme parks or any other destination that may be of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact me via MiceChat Private Message (screen name Rixter)
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.

*Some factual information sourced from wikipedia.com.