San Antonino Castillo Velasco is a village known for growing flowers and for the floral embroidery decorating its traditional blouses and dresses. While the last night of October is the traditional time families keep vigil at the graves of departed relatives in anticipation of the “Day of the Dead”, which falls on November first. All that day family members and friends of the deceased will have labored to decorate the graves of  loved ones with floral arrangements or tapestries created using flower petals, candles (velas), or colored sand.

San Antonino is known for its embroidery on blusas and Mexican wedding dresses, and for arrangements made with a flower called the flor inmortal ("immortal flower"), mainly seen in red, yellow, and white colors. The name was given because this flower does not lose its color when it is dried. These flowers take about 4 months to mature.

Residents of San Antonino decorate their graves and keep vigil on 3 November, days after surrounding villages. They are clear that their difuntos (departed ancestors) want it this way, so that the village can supply surrounding villages with flowers for decorating their altars and the graves and tombs in their panteons. Then, when the village can attend to their own cemetery, they  use flowers to  make elaborate designs using the fresh and dried flowers for which they are known. Only when that work is done, do the ancestors return.

There are puestos (tables and kiosks) lining the road up to the entrance to the cemetery. These sell food, embroidered goods, and other crafts. Participants will have time to browse, buy food for lunch, and wander through the puestos thus supporting the local economy.

We will stop at the workshop of the famous Aguilar sisters on the way home to see their elaborate ceramic work.

Notes:

Additional Costs:  Lunch and crafts purchased are not included in the tour price and must be paid in cash.

This tour will depart on time at 10:00 am  from Calle Los Libres behind the Grand Fiesta Americana Hotel. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before departure time. Unclaimed seats may be re-sold at boarding time.

Online ticket sales end at 7 pm the day before the tour. If the tour is sold out, you can take a chance that seats may be available and come to the boarding spot 15 minutes before departure. These seats must be paid for in cash.

No Refunds will be available. If you are not able to attend the event, you are welcome to sell your reservation to others. Please notify the library of change of name for reservation.