"La Casa de las Bugambilias" Bed and Breakfast invites you to participate in one of the most important festivities of Oaxaca. During this time, the City of Oaxaca and all the surrounding villages come alive with a special beauty of flowers, food, creativity, and folklore.
The holiday represents a rich blend of Catholic and indigenous traditions, and is both a celebration for the living and for the dead. Spirits of the beloved dead are believed to return to their homes and visit for a short time with their families and friends. The first day of November the souls of departed children arrive, and on the second day they are joined by spirits of adults. Like all visitors, they are welcomed with food, drink, stories, memories, and good will. Their presence is thought of as a blessing rather than a curse, and brings joy rather than pain to their loved ones.
In preparation for this day , the last days of October are spent preparing special loaves of sweet bread ("pan de muerto"), and desserts; harvesting special flowers, including marigolds; creating altars in the home; and decorating grave sites. Decorations in the form of macabre but whimsical skeletons and candy skulls abound.
The Cabrera Family invites you to participate in this magical time by taking advantage of one or more of the workshops or tours listed below. Workshops are small and personal, and take place in a family atmosphere. Tours are respectful of local traditions and sacred rites.

Programs and costs are as follows:


Calendar of Activities 2008:

Day
Date
Activity &Cost
Schedule
Place
Sunday
October 26
Chocolate day: Milling, preparing and tasting
Cost: $40 USD
10am to 2pm
Out of city
Macuilxochitl
Monday
Obtober 27
Purifying ritual with a healer and
Temazcal bath, massage
Cost: $70 USD
11am, 1pm, 3pm
Temazcal
Col. Volcanes
Tuesday
October 28
Cooking Class: Tamales
10am to 2pm
Casa de los Milagros
Thursday
October 30
Cooking Class: Moles
10am to 2pm
Casa de los Milagros
Thursday
Obtober 30
Purifying ritual with a healer and
Temazcal bath, massage
Cost: $70 USD
11am, 1pm, 3pm
Temazcal
Col. Volcanes
Friday
October 31
Decorating the altar
Cost: $25 USD
10am to 1pm
Las Bugambilias B&B
Friday
October 31
Dinner with Lecture
Cost: $30 USD
5:30pm to 7pm
Restaurant La Olla
Friday
October 31
Cementary Visit
Cost: $30 USD
7pm
Oaxaca City and Xoxo
Saturday
November 1
Cooking Class:
Cost: $60 USD
10am to 2pm
Casa de los Sabores
Saturday
November 1
Comparsas in Etla:
Cost: $30 USD
8pm
Etla San Augustin

All the activities have been arranged with your comfort in mind.
We hope that these activities will increase your knowledge of our customs & culture.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Aurora Cabrera de Dawson & Mariana Arroyo.

FOR RESERVATIONS CONTACT:

Mariana Arroyo or Aurora Cabrera
Reforma # 402 , Col. Centro
Oaxaca, Oax. México
CP. 68000
Tel/fax: 0 11 52 (951) 516 1165
From USA 1-321-249-9422

Make your reservations by e-mail at: bugambilias@lasbugambilias.com

Casa de las Bugambilias Bed and Breakfast
Temazcal

Photos courtesy of Edward Ornellas