A new exhibition at the Bancroft Library aims to educate visitors about the complex rituals and rules governing the wide range of Mexican fiestas, which extend well beyond sugar skulls, brightly colored marigolds and altars honoring the dearly departed so popular around this time of year.
José Adrián Barragán-Álvarez, curator of the Bancroft’s Latin Americana collection, has assembled an intriguing display with a wide assortment of objects for ¡Viva la Fiesta!: Mexican Traditions of Celebration. Among them, a huge, hand-colored map of Mexico City from 1807, photos of contemporary posadas (the community processions occurring each of the nine nights leading up to Christmas), images of the ever-popular bullfights, paintings and cookbooks that highlight different foods for different fiestas.