While death is a topic largely avoided in much of the Western World, the
remembrance of deceased ancestors and loved ones is traditional among diverse
cultures around the globe, often marked by lighting candles or lamps and laying out
offerings of food and drink. Such celebrations can be traced back as far as the glory
days of ancient Egypt when departed souls were honoured during the great festival of
Osiris…. What the hell am I talking about? Well from the 31st of October until the 2nd
Nov. Mexico celebrates Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos… and (and if you
excuse the pun) here is the skinny on it!
Dia de los Muertos is a uniquely Mexican holiday, merging the ancient
religious traditions of indigenous Mexico with Hispanic Catholic traditions. Humour
is always present; games, sayings and verses make satire of all issues and it is in no
way morbid, but a festive time when families welcome the souls of the dead during
their return each year to enjoy a few hours of life's pleasures.
At homes, by no later than October 31 an 'ofrenda' or altar is built. This is a
table meant to display and hold offerings to the spirits. The table is covered with
"papel picado" (decorative cut paper banner), often in colourful religious scenes. On
the table, the family will place saints (either photos or statues), many candles, flowers
(more cempasúchil), and a picture of the deceased. It is so highly decorated that room
is left only for the deceased's favourite food and drinks.
Tradition states that the souls of the children will return first, so that child's
preferred food, drink, and even toys will be set out first. It is believed that the children
who die before they are baptised ("los niños limbos", or infants in limbo) will return
on October 31, and those who die after return on November 1.
The adult spirits return next, on November 2. The food offerings will include
breads and biscuits, candied fruits (the most favoured is "dulce de calabaza", or
candied pumpkin), fruit pastes, chicken or turkey mole, tamales, maize cakes,
enchiladas, and any of that spirit's favourite foods. Beverages include water, coffee,
chocolate, flavoured atole, and alcohol, such as tequila or beer.
La Catrina, la Flaca, la Huesuda, la Pelona--Fancy Lady, Skinny, Bony, Baldy.
A fixture in Mexican society, she's not some trendy fashion model, but La Muerte-Death. And this is her time…
As I don’t think we have any Mexicans on our site it is unlikely any of you
will be doing much to celebrate D de los M but maybe you can sue it as a time to sell
more tequila… so here are a few suggestions of some new style tequila drinks
Jonny Vaughn:
50ml Sauza Hornitos
10ml fresh lemon
10ml Demerara gomme
15 seedless white grapes.
Muddle all and shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a single
grape.
Fraulein Margarita
40ml Sauza Hornitos
20ml Citronge
15ml lime juice
hoegaarden
shake all ex beer, strain into salt rimmed cocktail glass. Top with wheat beer. Garnish
with lemon slice.
HoneyBerry Margarita
50ml Sauza Hornitos
15ml Honey Gomme (or Miel Monin)
15ml Chambord
25ml Lime juice
shake all and strain into salt rimmed cocktail glass.
(all above thanks to Plan B in Brixton, UK)
But also it may be a good time to bust out your Sangrita recipe. This
spicy/sweet/piquant non alcoholic accompaniment to tequila is one of the traditional
ways to drink it, being far more authentic than the Tres Cuatos (tequila, salt, lime…
the “three friends”). Here is my recipe but I am searching for others… surely some of
our American brethren have their own fave? It’s the Mexican equivalent of a Bloody
Mary recipe with every bartender claiming theirs is the best…
In other news… being away as I am I am spending more time on the Internet
(is it possible?) and have found some great new (to me) sites and funky newsletters…
try any of these if you have a mo…
http://www.miss-charming.com/news/november03.html
the newsletter of Cheryl Charming… featuring this month loads of Cosmo
recipes to celebrate her feature in Cosmopolitan magazine… and in that there is this
For All The Lovely Ladies
http://magazines.ivillage.com/cosmopolitan/men/bartenders/photo/0,,587257_
587258,00.html
http://www.barmedia.com/AMonline.html
This is Roberto “de Tucson” Plotkin’s newsletter… a bit brand heavy but has
some useful stuff…
http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200310/20031015/tows_slide_20031015_08
.jhtml
recently there has been much argument about drinks not being what the names
suggest… This is perhaps the worst example, especially considering Oprah’s
popularity…
http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?act=ST&f=88&t=29556&
and this is where I found out about it… a wicked newsgroup and discussion
board… even Anthony Bourdain posts here!
That’s all from Angus in the Far East… described recently as a Tiki Geek and also
“the Alan Whicker of the bar world”… ye gods and little fishes!
Cheers
aw