Tucson’s All Souls Procession
Photos and text by Jerry Jackson
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- The Urn containing notes with the hopes, offerings and wishes for those who have passed is pulled during Tucson’s All Souls Procession The event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. It culminates with the ceremonial burning of the Urn. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A couple dressed as a calavera bride and groom for Tucson’s All Souls Procession. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A young girl walks in Tucson’s All Souls Procession. Despite some scary costumes the event is family friendly with participants of all ages. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or claviera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Spectators line the Congress Street bridge as revelers emerge from the Santa Cruz River Walk during Tucson’s All Souls Procession. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Urn ambassador Davina Araiza accompanies the urn prior to the start of Tucson’s All Souls Procession. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A stilt walker is seen at sunset prior to the start of Tucson’s All Souls Procession Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- An Urn attendant collects notes to put in the urn during the 2017 All Souls Procession in Tucson. The Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Costumed onlokers lined the sidewalk during Tucson’s All Souls Procession Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Amy Ijams of Tucson participates in Tucson’s All Souls Procession. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Costumed onlokers lined the sidewalk during Tucson’s All Souls Procession Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Urn ambassador Evita Peroncita collects notes to put in the urn during the 2017 All Souls Procession in Tucson. The Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Costumed onlokers lined the sidewalk during Tucson’s All Souls Procession Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- An Urn Ambassador collects notes to put in the urn during the 2017 All Souls Procession in Tucson. The Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- The Urn containing notes with the hopes, offerings and wishes for those who have passed is pulled during Tucson’s All Souls Procession The event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. It culminates with the ceremonial burning of the Urn. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- An Urn Ambassador collects notes to put in the urn during the 2017 All Souls Procession in Tucson. The Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A reveler wearing a No-Face costume from Japanese anime participates in Tucson’s All Souls Procession. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- An Urn Ambassador collects notes to put in the urn during the 2017 All Souls Procession in Tucson. The Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Urn ambassador Nick Tomazic collects notes to put in the urn during the 2017 All Souls Procession in Tucson. The Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- A participant carries a photo of Frank Zappa during the All Souls Procession in Tucson. The event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Dancer perform during Tucson’s All Souls Procession Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or calavera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Dancer perform during Tucson’s All Souls Procession Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Many participants in Tucson’s All Souls Procession have their faces painted to resemble stylized skulls or claviera. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Tucson’s All Souls Procession is an event meant to both celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
In 1990, Tucson artist Susan Johnson was looking for a way to honor her late father and process her own grief. She created a performance piece and was joined by several other artists in what is now the All Souls Procession. Twenty-eight years later, the small ritual ceremony has grown into an annual event in Tucson, now organized by the arts collective Many Mouths One Stomach. Last year more than 150,000 people gathered to remember loved ones and reflect on the universal experience of death.
The Procession draws from a myriad of cultures but can’t avoid comparisons to Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead given Tucson’s proximity to the border and that it is held the same week as the Mexican holiday. Organizers, however, emphasize that grief is a common experience and strive to keep the event all inclusive.