Pan de Muertos (Día de los Muertos V)

Pan de muerto (“Bread of the Dead”) Full Image

Dancing Dog was wondering the streets this afternoon, as is his wont, when he encountered a sidewalk seller of pan de muerto, or “bread of the dead.” This traditional egg bread is prepared especially for Day of the Dead to be placed on ofrendas (home altars in honor of the dead) and graves, and is available in all the panaderías (“bread bakeries”) in town.

The hearth-baked loaves come in many shapes, including human figures, alligators, lizards, and other animbals, but are typically round with a central raised knob representing the skull, and crossbone-shaped decorations radiating outward representing, what else, bones. A sprinkling of colored sugar crystals completes the decorations.

This vendor's offerings turned out to be sweet and airy, but otherwise pretty tasteless. You can find a recipe here.