In the Mexican town that makes emblematic Day of the Dead garlands

The Mexican town that makes the iconic Day of the Dead garlands

The "papel picado" banners are a central element in the lavish altars erected for the deceased and are also used to festoon homes and streets.

In the Mexican town that makes emblematic Day of the Dead garlands

The multicolored paper perforated with intricate folk art designs is known as "papel picado" (pecked paper). It is a central element in the lavish altars erected to the deceased on November 1-2 and is also used to festoon homes and streets. Papel picado originated in this small central Mexican town in the late 19th century. More than a century later, three-quarters of the town's 17,000 inhabitants are employed in producing the paper, which is ex…