Taco Joint
Doughnuts de los Muertos, Turkey Leg Taco and Mezcal Cocktail
Black Oaxacan mole, crispy sweet potato strings
Doughnuts de los Muertos* $3
Dark chocolate doughnut with Mexican chocolate custard, ancho chile glaze and traditional calavera decorations *available only at Taco Joint Lincoln Park
Taco Joint Lincoln Park
1969 N. Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
312-951-2457
TacoJoint.com
Taco Joint River North
158 W. Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312-337-8226
TacoJoint.com
At first glance, the Mexican custom of Dia de los Muertos–or the Day of the Dead, may seem a lot like Halloween. This popular and fascinating holiday is a time when people who have died are celebrated, remembered, and prayed for by friends and relatives. These celebrations are a festive occasion, taking place on November 1st and 2nd–coinciding and often intermixing with the Catholic tradition of All Saint’s Day. Many believe it is during this time that the souls of the departed return to visit their living relatives to eat, drink, and be merry–as if they were still living. Traditionally, families and friends gather around an ofrenda, or altar, dedicated to the deceased. These altars are elaborately decorated with sugar skulls, candles, and a display of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks. In some parts of Mexico, families gather at grave sites to build their altars at headstones and celebrate the lives that once were. It is common to find mariachi bands performing the favorite songs of the departed in these cemeteries, as well as a variety of street vendors selling food, candles, and trinkets to the families for their outdoor ofrendas. Although the traditions and customs may vary by family or region, one fact remains: Dia de los Muertos is a time for love, remembrance, and family that will continue on for generations to come.
