Mary J. Andrade is a native of Ecuador. She established her residence in the United States in 1967. She received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Guayaquil, Ecuador and specialized in photography in the United States. In 1978, she and her husband Frank founded the bilingual newspaper La Oferta. This weekly publication circulates in San Jose, California.
In 1987, Mary J. Andrade began a research project in Janitzio Michoacan, about the celebration of Day of the Dead. Every year she covers a different state of Mexico to gather information and to photograph a tradition that originated during the pre-Hispanic era. She has interviewed historians, anthropologists and experts in how Day of the Dead is celebrated in their communities, a tradition that has evolved through the centuries and has become an important element of the Mexican spirit and culture.
Books published
Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico – Michoacan ©, August 1998. Second Edition: January 1999. Third Edition July 2003.
Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico – Oaxaca ©, August 1999. Second Edition: August 2002.
Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico – Mexico City, Mixquic and Morelos ©, October 2000. Second Edition August 2003.
The Vigil of the Little Angels, Day of the Dead in Mexico ©, July 2001. A children’s book that covers the ritual of the children in the cemetery of Janitzio, Michoacan.
Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico – Puebla, Tlaxcala, San Luis Potosi and Hidalgo ©, August 2002.
Magical Christmas in Oaxaca ©, September 2003.
Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico – Yucatan ©, September 2003.
The Vigil of the Little Angels, Day of the Dead in Mexico ©, July 2005. This children’s book was published in Spanish and P’urhepecha. A project sponsored by the Office of Tourism of Michoacan.
Day of the Dead A Passion for Life @ June 2007. Covers in the four areas where the P’urhepecha people live in the State of Michoacan. It focus on the way they honor their dead.
Awards
On April of 2006 she received the Silver Lens (La Lente de Plata Mexicana) from the President of Mexico, Vicente Fox Quezada, for the photographic and editorial content of her two websites: www.dayofthedead.com and www.diademuertos.com.
On April 21, 2004 she received from the President of Mexico, Vicente Fox Quezada, the Silver Quill (La Pluma de Plata Mexicana). This award is given through the Secretary of Tourism to the best works published promoting the culture and tourism to Mexico. She was awarded the Silver Quill for her five part series Por los Caminos de Zacatecas, which was published in La Oferta in 2003.
On April 9, 2000 she received from the President of Mexico, Dr. Ernesto Zedillo, the Silver Quill (La Pluma de Plata Mexicana). This award is given through the Secretary of Tourism to the best works published promoting the cultural and tourist destinations of Mexico. She was awarded the Silver Quill for her first book of the series Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico, that covers the celebration in the State of Michoacan.
The OHTLI Award presented by the Secretary of Foreign Relations through the Comunidades Mexicanas en el Extranjero Program, for the support that she gives through her work as Editor of La Oferta a bilingual newspaper, to the Mexican citizens and Mexican American residents in the San Francisco Bay Area, and for the publication of her first book of the series Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico – Michoacan.
The Latino Hall of Fame award for her books of the series Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico, that cover Michoacan, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Mixquic and Morelos; Puebla, Tlaxcala, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo and The Vigil of the Little Angels.1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
City of San Jose Commendation recognizing her research of the traditions in Mexico and the many awards she has received for her series Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico, plus her “dedication to informing, celebrating and honoring Mexican Americans and their heritage through her work at La Oferta and her collections is highly recommendable.” The Commendation was presented by the Mayor of San Jose, Ron Gonzales, and City Council members Cindy Chavez and Chuck Reed, in August 2003.
She has also received many awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) for her travel articles.
Collections
Mexican Consulate in San Jose, California.
Ecuadorean Consulate, San Francisco, California.
Mexican Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois.
Museum of Santa Rosa, Puebla, Mexico.
Museum Estudio Diego Rivera, Mexico City.
Mexican Cultural Center, Madrid, Spain.
Cultural Institute, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
Tourism Office of the State of Michoacan, Mexico.
House of Culture of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Guatemalan Consulate in San Francisco, California.
Commercial Office of SAETA Airlines, Los Angeles, California
Private collections in United States, Ecuador, Mexico and Spain.
About the Publishing House La Oferta Review Inc.
La Oferta is a nationally awarded bilingual newspapers that serve the Latino community in San Jose, California.
La Oferta Review Inc. published Magical Christmas in Oaxaca and also the five books of the series Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico, the two children’s book The Vigil of the Little Angels and also Day of the Dead A Passion for Life.
This Editorial House is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP), and has won many national awards.
In 1987, I began a research project in Janitzio, Michoacan. Since then I have gone to different parts of Mexico every year to gather information and to photograph this tradition that originated during the pre-Hispanic era.
My new book “Day of the Dead A Passion for Life” covers for the first time, the four areas where the P’urhepecha people live in the State of Michoacan. I interviewed historians, anthropologists and experts on how Day of the Dead is celebrated in their communities.
With this blog, I would like that the persons who visit this site to share their own experiences about the celebration of this tradition not only in Mexico, but here in the United States and other parts of the world where people have their own way to honor their loved ones
En 1987 inicié en Janitzio, Michoacán esta investigación que me ha llevado todos los años a diferentes lugares de México, para recoger información y fotografiar esta tradición cuyos orígenes se remontan a la época prehispánica.
El libro que acabo de publicar “Día de los Muertos Pasión por la Vida” por primera vez enfoca en las cuatro áreas donde viven los p’urhepechas en el estado de Michoacán. Entrevisté a cronistas, antropólogos y conocedores de la forma cómo se celebra Día de los Muertos en sus respectivas comunidades.
Con este blog quiero iniciar una comunicación permanente con las personas que visiten este portal. Es importante compartir nuestras experiencias sobre la forma cómo se celebra esta tradición, no sólo en México, sino aquí en los Estados Unidos, al igual que en otras partes del mundo.
