Archive for the ‘All Souls Procession’ Tag
The All Souls Procession Weekend Honors the Ancestors and our lost loved ones and Celebrates Life — Photo-Artistry by kenne (11/04/12)
What is the All Souls Procession?
“The All Souls Procession is one of the most important, inclusive, and authentic public ceremonies in North America today.
The Procession had its beginnings in 1990 with a ceremonial performance piece created by local artist Susan Johnson.”
This weekend (November 4-6), Tucson will honor the dead and celebrate life with the 33rd Annual All Souls Procession.
******
A THIN moon faints in the sky o’erhead,
And dumb in the churchyard lie the dead.
Walk we not, Sweet, by garden ways,
Where the late rose hangs and the phlox delays,
But forth of the gate and down the road,
Past the church and the yews, to their dim abode.
For it’s turn of the year and All Souls’ night,
When the dead can hear and the dead have sight.
— from All Souls by Edith Wharton
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All Souls Procession, Tucson, Arizona — Photo-Artistry by kenne
After being canceled last year because of the pandemic, the Tucson All Souls Procession took place the past weekend.
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All Souls Procession — Image by kenne
Death is in the air
Encounter every moment
Not responsible.
— kenne
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All Souls Procession — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Blue light parade
Souls passing by
In celebration
Of a new life
Continuing on.
— kenne
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A Face In the Crowd (Tucson’s All Souls Procession) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Souls
All souls
Journey here
They learn and grow
Progress at their own speed
Life’s wheel.
M. L. Kiser
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Joy and Kenne at the 2015 All Souls Procession — Images by kenne
Over the past year and a half Joy’s mother (Virginia) and my brother (Tom) passed away. To honor them, last night we participated in Tucson’s version of the Day of the Dead where tens of thousands of people in elaborate costumes walk in one of the nation’s largest processions honoring the deceased.  The All Souls Procession is a uniquely Tucson community event that was launched 26 years ago as a way for people to publicly grieve their lost ones in an artistic way.
kenne
 (Click on any of the gallery images to see larger view in a slideshow format.)
MIDNIGHT has come, and the great Christ Church Bell
And may a lesser bell sound through the room;
And it is All Souls’ Night,
And two long glasses brimmed with muscatel
Bubble upon the table. A ghost may come;
For it is a ghost’s right,
His element is so fine
Being sharpened by his death,
To drink from the wine-breath
While our gross palates drink from the whole wine.
I need some mind that, if the cannon sound
From every quarter of the world, can stay
Wound in mind’s pondering
As mummies in the mummy-cloth are wound;
Because I have a marvellous thing to say,
A certain marvellous thing
None but the living mock,
Though not for sober ear;
It may be all that hear
Should laugh and weep an hour upon the clock.
— from All Souls’ Night by William Butler Yeats
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All Souls Procession — Computer Painting by kenne
At dark yesterday, Tucson celebrated its 25th All Souls Procession, with over 100,000 people participating or watching along the procession route. Dressed in customs, painted faces, and carrying pictures,  it’s a night to mourn, remember and celebrate lost loved ones walking the miles-long procession. This annual event has become one of the most important, inclusive, and authentic public ceremonies in North America.
All Souls Procession
Thousands merge in the Old Pueblo
Some to stand on the curb,
Others to walk in the procession.
They gathered at Toole and Congress –
Painted faces, masks, costumes, floats
And banners honoring the dead.
Positioning near the start,
Street and flashing lights
Replacing the daylight.
Darkness setting the stage
For the night walkers to rise
Moving to a steady drum beat.
Whimsical maidens carry urns of the dead
Collecting names of loved ones to be
Ceremonially burned at procession’s end.
A Whitman sound in the dark,
Beat! Beat! Drums!
Mind, not the walkers.
They move slowly in the procession,
Holding old stained photographs,
Beat! Beat! Drums!
. . . And play the fife lowly.
kenne
(Click here for All Souls Procession images.)
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All Souls Procession — Image by kenne
Once a year a unique Tucson event, The All Souls Procession, takes place in which the public is given an opportunity to mourn, reflect, and celebrate the universal experience of Death, through their ancestors, loved ones, and the living. This year’s procession is this weekend in downtown Tucson. Last year was our first time to experience and this year’s event is expected to attract tens of thousands to participate and watch the procession that will follow a path of approximately two miles to Mercado San Agustin.
kenne
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Images by kenne
All Souls Procession
Thousands merge in the Old Pueblo
Some to stand on the curb,
Others to walk in the procession.
They gathered at Toole and Congress —
Painted faces, masks, costumes, floats
And banners honoring the dead.
Positioning near the start,
Street and flashing lights
Replacing the daylight.
Darkness setting the stage
For the night walkers to rise
Moving to a steady drum beat.
Whimsical maidens carry urns of the dead
Collecting names of love ones to be
Ceremonially burned at procession’s end.
A Whitman sound in the dark,
Beat! beat! drums!
Mind not the walkers.
They move slowly in the procession,
Holding old stained photographs,
Beat! beat! drums!
. . . and play the fife lowly.
kenne
(Click on any of the thumbnails for a larger view of the gallery.)
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