Tucson All Souls Procession and Event November 7th through 9th 2009

                                                    Tucson All Souls Procession, a Tucson Tradition.

The All Souls Procession is perhaps one of the most inclusive,authentic, and important public ceremonies in North America today. The Tucson All Souls procession was started in 1990 by local artist Susan Johnson with a ritualistic performance piece. Susan at the time was grieving the passing of her father. It is inspired by the  Mexico's Dia de los Muertos holiday, and  Johnson felt she should honor her father's life in celebration and creativity. The performance was very well received and the procession has now grown into the event that it is today with the addition of many local artists.

There are now over 20,000 participants on the streets of downtown Tucson for a two-mile long human-powered procession that ends in the finalizing action of burning a large urn filled with the hopes, offerings and wishes of the public for those who have passed. Teh event takes m,ore thatn six months to prepare with myriads of installation art, altars, performers, and creatives of all kinds  top this amazing event.

The All Souls Procession, and now the entire All Souls Weekend, is a celebration and mourning of the lives of our loved ones who have passed.

Many Mouths One Stomach a non-profit arts collective based in Tucson, AZ,  organizes the  body for the Procession. It also serves as the vehicle for working artists to get togheter, create, and inspire the public through Festal Culture.

"Festal Culture"  is the expression and fulfillment of core human needs through public celebration, ceremony, and ritual. The All Souls Procession is an event that was created to serve the public need to mourn, reflect, and celebrate the universal experience of Death, through their ancestors, loved ones, and the living.

The Procession is a sanctuary for community members from all walks of life to express their grief and loss in a celebration of creative energy and a rejoicing of living.

It will be an interesting event for those of you that live in Tucson or are visiting the area for a local event