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The Day of the Dead

A Celebration of Death and Life

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Hardcover
$65.00 US
9.35"W x 12.4"H x 1.3"D   | 80 oz | 6 per carton
On sale Sep 17, 2024 | 332 Pages | 9780847872671
A tribute to Mexico’s most important holiday, this extraordinary and definitive volume documents the immense creativity displayed by this popular annual celebration.

While there have been other books about the Day of the Dead, most are long out of print and aridly academic. This book features both exceptional “traditional” Indigenous material—such as vibrant folk art and crafts, flamboyant costumes and masks, special food and drink—but also a much more funky, modern approach that blends lively music and dance, colorful parades, cutting-edge contemporary street art, and a festive atmosphere that engages all of the senses with handmade altars, flowers, painted skulls, toys, paintings, murals, and other art objects.

Featuring hundreds of specially commissioned photographs and voluminous in-depth research, the book is lavishly illustrated and designed with an aesthetic that draws on both traditional material as well as Mexico’s contemporary street art style. Blending visual elements inspired by the country’s pre-Hispanic heritage, European influences, and modern art trends, the book explores the evolution of the Day of the Dead and the special role it plays. This book is the definitive, authentic resource for all things Day of the Dead.
"The Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Death and Life studies the Mexican holiday’s traditions and evolution through photos of folk art and contemporary festivities." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Déborah Holtz and Juan Carlos Mena have created acclaimed books about Mexican culture and society including Tacopedia, Pedro Friedeberg, and most recently Avocadomania, the 2022 Gourmand World Cookbook Award winner.

About

A tribute to Mexico’s most important holiday, this extraordinary and definitive volume documents the immense creativity displayed by this popular annual celebration.

While there have been other books about the Day of the Dead, most are long out of print and aridly academic. This book features both exceptional “traditional” Indigenous material—such as vibrant folk art and crafts, flamboyant costumes and masks, special food and drink—but also a much more funky, modern approach that blends lively music and dance, colorful parades, cutting-edge contemporary street art, and a festive atmosphere that engages all of the senses with handmade altars, flowers, painted skulls, toys, paintings, murals, and other art objects.

Featuring hundreds of specially commissioned photographs and voluminous in-depth research, the book is lavishly illustrated and designed with an aesthetic that draws on both traditional material as well as Mexico’s contemporary street art style. Blending visual elements inspired by the country’s pre-Hispanic heritage, European influences, and modern art trends, the book explores the evolution of the Day of the Dead and the special role it plays. This book is the definitive, authentic resource for all things Day of the Dead.

Praise

"The Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Death and Life studies the Mexican holiday’s traditions and evolution through photos of folk art and contemporary festivities." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Author

Déborah Holtz and Juan Carlos Mena have created acclaimed books about Mexican culture and society including Tacopedia, Pedro Friedeberg, and most recently Avocadomania, the 2022 Gourmand World Cookbook Award winner.

Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month

We’re proud to celebrate Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month from September 15 – October 15! Join us in spotlighting Latine and Hispanic authors, creators, and trailblazers whose stories are redefining identity and shaping today’s culture, from music to politics and everything in between! Check out our favorite children’s, cooking, and gift picks for this month down

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