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Inside the Graveyard Mausoleums of Mexico

Last Updated Jun 28, 2020 Ongoing Photo Series

In Mexico, the dead might be gone, but they are rarely forgotten. A three-day national holiday, Día de Muertos, exists just to remember them and welcome them back to the world of the living each year. And as cremation is not common here, there are thousands of cemeteries crammed with an interlocking jigsaw of graves, tombstones and, most interesting to me, the mausoleums.

These are not the elaborately built Gothic style stone mausoleums one might imagine somewhere in Europe. Instead, these mausoleums look more like tiny windowed houses, usually humble, made of brick and painted plaster. Not every cemetery has them – but some are filled with row after row of these mini-houses, each painted a different saturated, bright, happy color.

As you approach one of these mausoleums, there is a feeling of curiosity and excitement: What will be inside this one? Has it been left unmaintained and in disrepair; or is filled with a collection of flowers, photos and personal effects from the dead’s lives? Who’s buried here, a single person or an entire family? And when were they born, how old were they when they died? The doctor’s medical bag on this table – did she use it for her entire career? How do her children remember her? Who’s caring for and maintaining this grave – and how long has it been since they’ve been here?

I’ve shot hundreds of these mausoleums for this ongoing project, in 23 graveyards in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca and Chiapas. Most of them have windows on the front which allow you to peer. Often the glass is dirty from dust and paint drops. After brushing away the obvious dirt, you then wedge your wide-angle lens in between the protective ironwork on the door, which is often just wide enough to be accommodating. From there the difficult assessment is: How does this particular mausoleum differentiate itself from the hundreds of others you’ve seen before; from the 30 you just saw in the past hour? For this I’ve developed a certain checklist and crude point system which quickly allows me to “grade” one mausoleum against another.

Is it…

  • A mausoleum in a new state I haven’t included in the series yet? (2)
  • A new city, town, or cemetery? (1)
  • Is the inside painted colorfully? (1)
  • Is it a new color that’s new already in the series? (2)
  • Does the grave contain personal effects and memorabilia from the loved ones’ lives, such as a doctor’s diploma, or objects with meaning such as cigarettes, footballs, toy cars? (1)
  • Is it a grave for a child? (1)
  • Is there a photo or illustration of the deceased? (1)
  • Are there curtains and windows on the sides of the mausoleum? (1)
  • Horizontally frameable with same crop throughout series (with mausoleum walls visible on both sides of photos; edge of ceiling usually visible at top), and is a pleasing composition achievable while staying between 16-24mm (APS-C)? (1)
  • Is the tomb old or does the deceased have an old date of birth or death? (1)
  • Is there something which “shouldn’t” be there, such as the mop and bucket used to clean the grave or an empty vegetable tin used as a flower vase? (1)

For this series of photos, I wanted viewers to be able to feel as if they are standing inside them. Not outside peering in through the dirty glass window, but inside, able to inspect the items, understanding the lives of the people buried there. The cemetery in Mexico, although a place for the dead, is also a place for the living, filled with a surprising amount of laughter and joy, even on its most solemn holiday, the Day of the Dead.

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Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. Panteón del Cristo.
Panteón del Cristo, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán.
Mausoleum in Panteón Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Panteón Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Estación Llano, Sonora. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, Estación Llano, Sonora.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Mausoleum in Panteón Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Panteón Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Panteón del Cristo, Morelia, Michoacán.
Panteón del Cristo, Morelia, Michoacán.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Panteón municipal, Chapala, Jalisco.
Panteón municipal, Chapala, Jalisco.
Chapala, Jalisco. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, Chapala, Jalisco.
Mausoleum in Panteón Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Panteón Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. Panteón del Cristo.
Panteón del Cristo, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Panteón municipal, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco.
Panteón municipal, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. Panteón del Cristo.
Panteón del Cristo, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca. Panteón General
Panteón General, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca.
Guadalajara, Jalisco. Panteón Mezquitán.
Panteón Mezquitán, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco.
Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco. Panteón municipal.
Panteón municipal, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco.

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Two children are dressed as catrines on the Day of Two children are dressed as catrines on the Day of the Dead in the cemetery in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico.
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Dos niños vestidos como catrines en el Día de Muertos en el panteón de Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico.  #ajijic #jalisco #mexico #dayofthedead #diademuertos #diadelosmuertos #catrinas #catrines #catrina #catrin #cemetery #panteon #graveyard #mextagram #mexico_maravilloso #mexigers #ig_mexico #vive_mexico #igersmexico #loves_mexico #wu_mexico #pasionxmexico #mexicolors #traveltheworld #igtravel #culture #travel #mexicodesconocido #méxicolindo #mexicoandando
Victor Rochin launches a rocket during the process Victor Rochin launches a rocket during the procession for Saint Andrew in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico.
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Victor Rochin lanza un cohete durante la procesión de San Andrés en Ajijic, Jalisco, México.
Hice una página web / guía turística virtual pa Hice una página web / guía turística virtual para Ajijic, México, el pueblo en lo que he vivido los últimos 8 años. Restaurantes, tiendas, artistas, artesanos, hoteles, qué hacer, fiestas y festivales. Además de ser fotógrafo, también soy diseñador de web! Que la encuentres útil si alguna vez estás en la área. Visita https://lakesideguide.mx o checa el bio link de hoy.
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I made a website/virtual tourist guide to Ajijic, Mexico, the town where I've been living for the past 8 years. Restaurants, shops, artists, artisans, hotels, what to do, fiestas & festivals. Apart from being a photographer, I'm also a web designer! If you're ever in the area, I hope you find it useful. Visit https://lakesideguide.mx or check today's bio link.  #mexico #ajijic #chapala #jalisco #guadalajara #lagodechapala #lakesideguide
El Lago de Chapala en abstracto. Más photos del L El Lago de Chapala en abstracto. Más photos del Lago de Chapala en blanco y negro en el bio link de hoy o visita bit.ly/chapalainabstract. Impresiones de esta foto disponisble en bit.ly/abstractchapala1.
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Lake Chapala in abstract. More photos of Lake Chapala in black and white in today's bio link or visit bit.ly/chapalainabstract. Prints available of this photo at bit.ly/abstractchapala1.
Charros en el Día del Charro en Ajijic, Jalisco, Charros en el Día del Charro en Ajijic, Jalisco, México. Los charros tienen su propio día de fiesta en México. Visita bit.ly/dayofthecowboy para ver más fotos de charros.
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Cowboys on the Day of the Cowboy in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. Cowboys have their own national holiday in Mexico. Visit bit.ly/dayofthecowboy for more charro photos.
Un joven charro en el Día del Charro en Ajijic, J Un joven charro en el Día del Charro en Ajijic, Jalisco, México. Los charros tienen su propio día de fiesta en México. Visita bit.ly/mexicowboys para ver más fotos de charros o haz clic en el bio link de hoy.
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A young cowboy on the Day of the Cowboy in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. Cowboys have their own national holiday in Mexico. Visit bit.ly/mexicowboys to see more photos of charros or click on today's bio link.
Un vaquero demuestra su habilidad con el laso en e Un vaquero demuestra su habilidad con el laso en el Día del Vaquero en Ajijic, Jalisco, México. Los charros tienen su propio día de fiesta en México. Visita bit.ly/cowboyshadow para ver más fotos de charros.
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A cowboy shows off his roping skills on the Day of the Cowboy in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. Cowboys have their own national holiday in Mexico. Visit bit.ly/cowboyshadow to see more photos of charros.
Un danzante de ballet folklórico estilo veracruza Un danzante de ballet folklórico estilo veracruzano en el Día de Muertos, Ixtlahuacán. Visita bit.ly/catrinaphotos para más fotos de catrinas en el Día de Muertos.
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A Veracruz-style ballet folklórico dancer dressed as a catrín on the Day of the Dead in Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco, Mexico. Visit bit.ly/catrinaphotos for more photos of catrinas on the Day of the Dead.
Un danzante de ballet folklórico estilo veracruza Un danzante de ballet folklórico estilo veracruzano en el Día de Muertos, Ixtlahuacán. Visita bit.ly/catrinaphotos para más fotos de catrinas en el Día de Muertos.
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A Veracruz-style ballet folklórico dancer dressed as a catrín on the Day of the Dead in Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco, Mexico. Visit bit.ly/catrinaphotos for more photos of catrinas on the Day of the Dead.
Un danzante de ballet folklórico veracruazano dis Un danzante de ballet folklórico veracruazano disfrazado como un catrín en el Día de los Muertos. Estuvo en Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco, México, para un espectáculo de danza y vestía el atuendo tradicional de ballet folklórico del estado de Veracruz. Para más fotos de catrinas en el Día de Muertos visita bit.ly/catrinaphotos.
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A Veracruz-style ballet folklórico dancer dressed as a catrín on the Day of the Dead. He was in Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco, Mexico, for a dance performance and was wearing the traditional dance outfit of ballet folklórico dancers from the state of Veracruz. For more photos of catrinas on the Day of the Dead visit bit.ly/catrinaphotos.
El gran finale de los espectáculos de fuegos arti El gran finale de los espectáculos de fuegos artificiales para el último día de una fiesta de 12 días en Ajijic, Jalisco, México, las fiestas patronales de San Andrés. Para más fotos de castillos pirotécnicos visita bit.ly/fireworkscastillos.
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The grand finale fireworks show on the last day of a 12-day fiesta in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico, for the fiestas patronales of St. Andrew. For more photos of Mexican fireworks castles visit bit.ly/fireworkscastillos.
Un "castillo" de fuegos artificiales durante las f Un "castillo" de fuegos artificiales durante las fiestas patronales de San Andrés en Ajijic, Jalisco, México. Los castillos pueden alcanzar 15-20 metros o a veces más.  Para más fotos de castillos pirotécnicos visita bit.ly/fireworkscastillos.  A pyrotechnics worker keeps close watch on a fireworks "castle" during the fiestas patronales for St. Andrew in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. These structures reach 50 feet or sometimes more. For more photos of Mexican fireworks castles visit bit.ly/fireworkscastillos

All images © Dane Strom

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