For those of you who don’t live influenced by the passions
of Mexico, today is the third day of Dia de los Muertos. In Latin America, this is the day to remember
those of our family and friends that have died.
Wikipedia quotes: Frances Ann Day
summarizing the three-day celebration, the Day of the Dead:
“
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On October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a
children's altar to invite theangelitos (spirits of dead
children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the
adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families
go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The
three-day fiesta filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead; muertos (the
bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper
decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and
decorations.
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”
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—Frances Ann Day, Latina and Latino Voices
in Literature
I, who appreciate every one of my friends alive or
dead, find this holiday especially intriguing. When I was young I couldn’t see the value
of this day. I thought it all
macabre. Neither could I see any value
in my mother’s yearly gifts of lilies to her family graves. Now days I delight in the joy, the color,
music, and foods of this family holiday.
Can’t you see me now eating sugar skulls and laughing
with Marion, Cosmom, Jo, Janey, Mother, Gunny, grandma and grandpa, Harry, Gimpa,
and especially Duck. All those other
old friends would join us and celebrate life too.
Who would you honor on this special day?
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Yes, I have grown to understand this day and just recently discussed having picnics in cemeteries with my DIL. I certainly honor all of have drug their lives through the years before me.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this celebration much more than my earlier years. Partly it's exposure to Walla Wall's Hispanic community and the other part because I think my understanding of death is much larger than in my early years. I love the altars and celebration of all those gone people we loved and loved us. Tomorrow we have a gathering for one more who left last week.
ReplyDeleteIn Judaism we light a yahrzeit candle on the anniversary of our loved one's passing. This is a special candle that is designed to burn 24 hours to honor the memory of the loved one. So many folks to honor: My parents, Dennis' parents, his 2 sisters and 2 brothers, Gene, Dan, Don, our friend Harry, Great-Grand Mom Ella.
ReplyDeleteYesterday our church held ALL SAINTS SUNDAY by hanging bells for loved ones gone. The bells remain in the church and we can hear them softly speak.
ReplyDeleteA great holiday, known as Samhain to some of us. and when the Banshe walks.
ReplyDelete