Los Muertos

In 2014, when I was in Bolivia, I was intrigued by the relationship between the Bolivians and the dead. During Dia de los Muertos holiday, I traveled to Potosí and La Paz in order to be able to document the events attributed to the holiday. On days dedicated to the dead, as is tradition in most Catholic countries, tributes are paid to the dead, but in Bolivia there are traditions that are different from most of these countries.

At 12PM on the first day of the holiday, the spirits of the deceased are welcomed into the homes of their relatives. At that time, 'Todos Santos' or Mast'aku table should be ready, flowers, ornaments, food are usually placed and music is usually played in the environment; everything the deceased liked when he was alive.

Games and lots of alcohol are served, so that when the spirit visits family and friends they only sees joy.

In La Paz, it is common to see people taking skulls for a walk in the cemetery, almost in a demonstration of power. They decorate the skulls, which attribute miraculous powers and the ability to make wishes come true. These skulls are called 'ñatitas'.

Most ñatitas belong to people who were buried as paupers. Some Bolivians say that the spirit that inhabited the skull appears in dreams offering spiritual services, as long as the person removes that skull from the cemetery to care for and worship it.