Reader Submitted: Cinco De Mayo in Second Life

In the past, Any1 Gynoid had written for the Newser, as well as CNN iReports. While she has left the paper, she occasionally keeps in touch with us. She recently sent us a submission about a party she had went to recently: Cinco De Mayo. While many of us north of the border have "Cinco De Mayo" parties in bars and other places around the fifth of May, just exactly what is the holiday? And as it turns out, the day is also celebrated on the other side of the Atlantic, but for another reason.

Read Any1's reader submission in Events.

SL Video: "Chichén Itzá Mexico "

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From "Planet Video" August 2007, "The recreation of the ancient world of Chichén Itzá in Second Life. Part of the (successful) bid to become one of the Seven Wonder The recreation of the ancient world of Chichén Itzá in Second Life. Part of the (successful) bid to become one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World."

Day of the Dead in Second Life

While people in the United States celebrated Halloween, in Mexico they were getting ready for a holiday similar in some ways but different in others, Dia de Muertos, "The Day of the Dead." In Second Life, the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum and the University of Texas at El Paso got together to build an exhibition about this holiday, the fifth year in a row it has been done. Although the official events are over, the area is still there. Fritter Enzyme took a look to see what was there, and found a number of things to see and do.

Read Fritter's Enzyme article in Places.

Celebrating Mexican Independance Day

At the Instituto Español last night, there was a party celebrating Mexico's Independence Day on Sept 16. People attending, both from the Institute's group and visitors, were passed handheld Mexican flags, and invited to dance. Some people showed up in ethnic fashion for the event, and there was much music to dance to.

The Instituto Español offers lessons in Spanish for Second Life residents, and helps inform about cultural events in Spanish-speaking countries.

Art Exhibit “Realism in Second Life” Opens

Grey Lupindo is back and writing again. Her latest article is of an art exhibition, “Realism in Second Life, at the Cuauhnahuac Gallery in Instituto Espanol. Set in a replica of a real-life museum in Mexico, the exhibition features a variety of pictures from Ruben Acajou and Sandralee Palianta.

Read Grey's article in Design.

Amanda’s Art

I finally made it over to the Mexico Gallery where I heard that there is a wonderful exhibit of real life art brought into SL. The artist is AmandaT Tamatzui, a professional artist in both real-life and SL.

There is such a mixture of styles on the first and second floors of the museum. I was amazed at the variety: Portraits, vivid Abstracts and so much more. One painting asked “Art...what do you really see?” Think of that as you go from painting to painting. One of my favorites I found tucked away on the back of post, a simple white and brown sea shell. 

On the second floor you will find more amazing pieces and be sure to look for some gift pillows adorned with her art and inside one is a most interesting biography of Amanda! It tells her story from her beginnings in Indonesia to her present home in the United Kingdom.  Be sure to grab it. This gallery looks so interesting. I will look for more exhibits there.  

Amanda’s  exhibit will be there for at least two more weeks. Begin your tour of the gallery here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ometeotl/99/207/33

Gemma Cleanslate

"Cinco De Mayo Madness"

Sunday was the 5th of May, or Cinco de Mayo in Mexico and the United States. The event celebrates a victory by the Mexicans in their war against occupation by the French Empire. Oddly enough, the holiday is more popular among Mexican-Americans in the US than most of Mexico. For "gringos," the event is more of an excuse to party.

Besides bars in real life having parties for the holiday, some places in Second Life had them too. DrFran Babcock, Ariel Loonie, and this tiny porcine had a little Cinco De Mayo fun of their own.

"Hats off" to them.

Check out Lanai Jarrico's article on Cinco De Mayo (here).

Pictures from DrFran Does SL.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Today is the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, or "The Day of the Dead. At first glance this holiday, celebrated in the US by some Mexican-Americans, may seem like a continuation of Halloween. But it isn't about pranks and scariness, but about remembering late family and friends. Grey Lupindo takes a look at how the Instituto Espanol describes the celebrations.

Read more in Events.

Passionate Redheads to Hold Cinco De Mayo Party for RFL

Today at 5 PM SL Time, the Passionate Redheads will be having a party at the Southern Colorado sim. The event will be having a Cinco De Mayo theme.

Dusk Griswold will be the DJ for the event. No word yet on who supplies the beer and drunken animations.

Cinco De Mayo, Spanish for Fifth of May, commemorates the victory of the seemingly outclassed Mexican forces over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5 1862. French Emperor Napoleon the Third had sent the army over in an attempt to establish an Empire in Mexico. The holiday isn’t largely celebrated in Mexico outside Puebla, but is mostly celebrated by Mexican-Americans in the United States.

The event will be held at the Enchanted Forest, Southern Colorado (98, 170, 51)

Women of Juarez Speak in SL

Seeing all those male avatars walking around in pink boots and high heels was a funny sight. But the event was to bring awareness to the numerous killings of women in Juarez Mexico, hundreds of them unsolved. Any1 Gynoid reports on this event, part of the 16 Day Womens Rights Festival in Second Life.

Read the story in People.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

The Instituto Espanol (58, 160, 25) celebrated the Mexican festival of Dia de los Muertos this week. In Mexico the celebration is held on November 1 and 2. It is a celebration of life and a way to honor deceased family members. At the Instituto, Cultural Director Malu Zhao has created a traditional altar that both celebrates and educates. Her exhibit includes a notecard that explains the significance of the items on the altar and gives directions on how to prepare one.

In her altar, Zhao placed photographs and the traditional items that are used to celebrate in Mexico. She placed a glass of water on the altar because water is a source of life and represents purity. She added candles to represent light, faith and hope. Her notecard explained that four or more candles are sometimes placed together to form a cross. Brightly colored marigolds are frequently used in the Dia de los Muertos altars, and they represent the impermanence of life. Seasonal fruits and special bread called “pan de muertos” are usually placed on the altar, too. Traditionally, Mexicans place tamales, mole and hot chocolate on the altar, as well as other food that the deceased person enjoyed. The food is a feast for the dead to enjoy. It is also customary to burn copal incense, which clears the space of any negative energy or bad spirits, and helps the dead find their way.

Students at the Institute competed in an altar building contest, and friends and visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorite. At the time this article was written, the Intermediate class had a healthy lead. The students placed their SL items, such as food, flowers, and candles on their altars.

To view the altars, follow the path lit by candles and strewn with marigold petals. It will lead you to a building decorated with colorful skulls. Go down the steps to the lowest level, where you will find the altars.

Grey Lupindo

Second Life Jalisco, Mexico

Today, Reporter Grey Lupindo goes south of the border. In the Opera Joven sim, she finds a slice of Mexico to explore around in. So get your train tickets and head to Jalisco.

Read the story in Places.