Days of the Dead (Días de los Muertos) is the Latin American holiday coinciding with Halloween, All Souls’ Day, and All Saints’ Day. It is both a shared acknowledgment of death’s reality and a celebration of the lives of departed loved ones. Come explore the creative whimsy and dark humor, cultural history and creative arts of this ancient festivity. We will make traditional Mexican crafts, including papel picado (cut paper banners), playfully decorated sugar skulls, pan de muertos (a sweet bread), and ofrendas (memorial “altars”).

The retreat is housed at Casa del Sol, an historic adobe house two miles beyond the main campus of Ghost Ranch, overlooking the high-desert cliffs, mesas, and mountain that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe. Mornings will begin with discussion of a poem or short text, followed by crafts. Afternoons will provide time to relax, hike, take a ranch tour or horseback ride, or visit nearby sites such as Ojo Caliente Hot Springs. Evenings will offer documentary videos, firelight, stars, and camaraderie. Throughout our time, we will decorate and share our ofrendas created for Days of the Dead (Días de los Muertos). Join us for thoughtful discussion and creative fun!

About the Instructor: Helen Byers is an award-winning artist, author, and educator of visual art and literature who lives near Abiquiu. She has also lived and traveled extensively in Mexico. She has been a Ghost Ranch instructor since 2005. For more information about Helen and her work—including a slideshow from previous Días de los Muertos courses—visit her website, helenbyers.com.

Testimonials:

“It was the best experience I’ve had at a seminar anywhere.”

“Excellent workshop!! Inspiring to all who participated…. Helen did a fantastic job of accumulating the materials and instructing us in the construction of the traditional crafts associated with Días de los Muertos, as well as informing us of the historical and spiritual background of the tradition.”

“Wonderful use of resources, media, hands-on. Helen is very organized but informal and open, welcoming, spiritually grounded, participatory. … I would highly recommend to others interested in the topic, indigenous cultures of the Americas, or Ghost Ranch.”