Main Day of the Dead celebrations in state of Michoacan

(2 Nov 2007)
1. Various of Patzcuaro residents decorating graves with flowers and candles
2. Elderly woman looking at grave
3. Wide of cemetery with graves decorated with flowers and candles
4. Close up of woman about to put flowers on grave
4. Decorated grave
5. Man praying next to grave decorated with flowers, candles and pictures
6. Close up of pictures of people buried in grave
7. Wide of residents sitting around graves
8. Close of picture and candle on grave
9. Close of woman looking at grave
10. Wide of cemetery
11. Medium of man in front of grave
12. Close up of woman praying
13. Wide of cemetery
14. Close up of fruit and bread offered to the dead
15. Close up of lit candle with man standing behind
16. Wide of decorated grave
17. Elderly man standing next to grave
18. Woman putting candle on grave
19. Various of decorations
20. SOUDNBITE: (Spanish) Voxpop, no name given, local resident:
"We try to carry on the traditions of holding a wake for the souls, where we offer them fruits and the things that they liked... their salt, their water."
21. Various of offerings given to the dead
22. Wide of graves
23. Close of woman praying
24. Various of decorated graves
25. Child putting flower on grave
26. Woman praying
STORYLINE:
Residents of the Mexican state of Michoacan celebrated in the early hours of Friday the Night of the Dead, a tradition in which residents gather in local cemeteries to honour the dead.
One such ceremony took place in the city of Patzcuaro, where local people gathered by the hundreds at the local cemetery, to decorate the graves of their loved ones and make offerings of foods they enjoyed while they were alive.
"We try to carry on the traditions of holding a wake for the souls, where we offer them fruits and the things that they liked ...their salt, their water," a local resident told AP Television.
Throughout Latin America, the First of November is a day of remembrance of those that have died. It's commonly referred to as the Day of the Dead.
In keeping with tradition - some dating back to pre-hispanic times - relatives journey to the graves of their loved ones to play music, clean the tombs, lay flowers and to celebrate the life of the deceased.
The state of Michoacan is particularly well known for its celebrations, attended by thousands of tourists each year.
Mexicans believe that the souls of the dead come back to visit and relatives want them to have a safe journey back.
The government of Mexico City decided to dedicate this year's Day of the Death celebrations at the Zocalo (main square) to Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

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