Sunday Visits

During the first half of the last century, it was common for people to go visiting friends on Sunday afternoons. Last Sunday we went visiting, but not to friends' homes. After church, we stopped at Pioneer Park in Mesa where the 22nd Annual Pow Wow was going on. Later in the day, there were dancing contests. We didn't see any of that, but we did see a group of men, some in rather elaborate clothing, others in jeans with a cape or stole over their shoulders, drumming and shaking rattles.



I was fascinated by the long row of silver medallions hanging down the back of these two men.




There was a large number of vendors. Some were from the Acoma Indian Pueblo, others from the Navajo Nation. Many of them displayed beaded jewelry. There also was this bead vendor. Aren't they colorful?



Next we drove to the Mesa Performing Arts Center to look at the Dia De Los Muertos, Day of the Dead, Celebration.



On November 2, the day after All Saints' Day, in Mexico and some other countries people go to the cemeteries, build altars and share food and memories of their family members who have died. This Mesa celebration offers related items for sale and includes a competition for artistic altars. No photos were allowed there, but there was a public altar that I could photograph.







Here is a sample of the face painting available to the children.



It seems there are skeletons and pictures of skeletons everywhere these days. And nowhere more than Sunday in Mesa.





In addition to the Day of the Dead activities, we enjoyed looking at the Performing Arts Center. Can you imagine what it sounds like on a windy day if this really is a wind chime?