Exploring Oaxaca, Where Traditions Embrace Life and Death

In collaboration between OPPO and Discovery Channel, Culture in a Shot showcases the world’s rich cultural diversity through OPPO Imaging. Travelling to Oaxaca, photographer Jerome Teo uses the OPPO Find X8 Pro to capture the Day of the Dead festivities and unique traditions that are still practised today.

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Few celebrations capture the spirit of a city quite like Oaxaca’s Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. While the festival is celebrated across Mexico, Oaxaca is the heart of where it happens. With its strong indigenous roots, Oaxacan festivities are deeply traditional and rich in cultural and historical significance.

The city comes alive with street parades — filled with dancers, music, and colorful art like papel picado (cut-out paper banners) and alebrijes (sculptures of fantastical creatures).

Street parades during the Day of the Dead

The community doesn’t just watch the parades — they become part of the art. In her everyday life, Miroslava Ferra is a folk singer, but at the festival, she transforms into the popular character La Catrina, a skeleton dressed in elegant clothes. To Miroslava, La Catrina is an important reminder that despite wealth, beauty, or social class, death unites us all.

Miroslava Ferra, a folk singer, in her dress for the festival

Besides the street parades, another iconic tradition is the cemetery vigils. As the sun sets, families gather at local cemeteries to light candles and honor their ancestors. Instead of being somber or eerie, these vigils are lively and heartfelt. The community share food and drink, sing loudly to music, and fill the night with stories and laughter. Illuminated by a warm sea of candlelight, the cemeteries become beautiful, sacred spaces that bring people closer to their loved ones, both living and dead.

Decorations in the cemeteries

For more intimate celebrations, some locals celebrate at home. Every year, Dulce and her family set up ofrendas (altars) — elaborately decorated with marigolds, candles, photos, and offerings like sugar skulls, traditional sweet bread, and mezcal. The decorations are not just for show. Each element has its purpose: Marigolds and photos guide the spirits, while food and drinks nourish them after their journey home.

Dulce and her family on the Day of the Dead

Gathered around the altars, Dulce and her family share cherished memories and teach the younger ones about relatives they never had the chance to meet. Surprisingly, the atmosphere is not one of loss. The family often smiles and laughs as they recall their best memories together. It almost feels as though their loved ones are still around, with each story bringing them back to life, even if just for a while.

It may seem unusual for a culture to celebrate death, but the Day of the Dead is really about strengthening the connection to one’s past. With origins dating back over a thousand years ago, the Day of the Dead is a blend of indigenous traditions and Catholic influences introduced during the Spanish Conquest. On the same altar, you’ll often see symbols of Zapotec and Aztec gods alongside Catholic crosses — a unique expression of Oaxacan identity.

Traditional, decorated altars in an Oaxacan home

Beyond the Day of the Dead, traditions are quite literally woven into Oaxaca’s daily life. In the town of Teotitlán del Valle, Zapotec weavers have been practising their craft for over 2,000 years. Using natural dyes and traditional looms, these artisans create intricate textiles that tell ancient stories about their gods. The finished textiles are often used as clothing, rugs, and ceremonial pieces in homes — an everyday reminder to the locals of their heritage.

Oaxacan artists creating textiles with natural dyes and traditional looms

Oaxaca is also revered for its traditional cuisine, and is nicknamed The Land of the Seven Moles for its rich, complex sauces that blend indigenous Mexican and Spanish flavors.

One of Oaxaca’s most beloved dishes — a rich, complex sauce known as mole

For local chef Mary Lopez, her cooking is a way to continue practising her traditions. Her specialty is mole negro, made with over thirty ingredients, often served during special occasions like weddings and religious festivals including, of course, the Day of the Dead.

Local chef Mary Lopez preparing her famous mole

For Oaxacans, traditions are a legacy that they celebrate with pride. From the vibrant Day of the Dead to the everyday rituals of weaving and cooking, their culture is a reflection of their identity and a bond that ties generations of the community — both past and present — together.

Capture the magic of Mexico with OPPO

With the OPPO Find X8 Pro series, it’s possible to capture the world’s magic with just your smartphone.

On his journey through Mexico, Jerome used the Find X8 Pro, the first globally available smartphone to feature two periscope cameras, offering industry-leading gapless zoom performance. The AI Telescope Zoom takes Find X8 Series’ incredible hardware even further, with the ability to take stunning photos at up to 60x. With this feature, Jerome could capture Mexico’s majestic Teotihuacan and colorful hot air balloons, all in the same frame.

Capturing the Teotihuacan with OPPO Find X8 Pro AI Telescope Zoom

Create an out-of-this-world image with your own alebrijes

Using the latest GenAI technology, the OPPO AI Studio – AI Reimage feature lets you generate your very own alebrijes, brightly colored folk art sculptures of magic creatures, which are often a mix of real and mythical animals. With vibrant and fantastical designs, Oaxacans often depict alebrijes as spirit guides helping souls navigate between worlds.