She flagged down a cab and asked the driver if he happened to know anyone who made the delicate paper flags. The man took her to his brother Don Rene Mendoza, who, by sheer chance, was a master of the trade. After speaking with Amezkua for more than five hours, Mendoza agreed to pass the craft tradition on to her. The Spanish also began importing papel china — thin, tissue-like paper from China, often used to wrap other goods. This confluence led to the creation of the papel picado used today to decorate a variety of celebrations in Mexican culture, most notably Day of the Dead, when it is placed around altars of deceased loved ones.

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Persons: Blanka Amezkua, San Salvador Huixcolotla, Amezkua, Don Rene Mendoza, Mendoza, Papel, Marcelo Alejandro Ramirez Garcia, Rojas Organizations: International Museum of Art, Science Locations: San Salvador, Mexican, Mexico, McAllen , Texas, Spanish, China