Dia de Los Muertos
November 1st is All Saints Day. November 2nd is Dia de los Muertos. On these two days, Mexicans celebrate, well, death. Back in the Aztec days, pre-conquistadores, the indigent Mexican people honored their ancestors’ deaths during the later part of the year. The celebration has survived notwithstanding the Catholic Church and the Spanish invaders. Food plays a big role in the celebrations. During the holiday, Mexicans assemble shrines to the dead in their homes. The shrines contain skulls, skeletons, photos of the deceased, candy and other edible offerings. In rural Mexico some families spend the day at the cemetery visiting the graves of long gone relatives. They decorate the site with marigolds and celebrate by eating and drinking.
Families might bring the favorite foods of the honored dead. Depending on the region, this could be tamales, mole, pasole, certainly tequila or mescal and pan de muerto – a rich, sweet egg bread.
To western sensibilities the tradition may seem odd. In fact, by recognizing and even celebrating death, it lessens the fear and mystery surrounding the ultimate ends we all face. Tonight, we’ll assemble our shrine to our lost loved ones and toast them with some of their favorite foods and maybe a sip of Cuervo.
posted by Champurrado at 6:47 AM
7 Comments:
Thanks Dotty.
Yes I think this is a wonderful thing. As I'm sure you know, Celtic tradition says this time of year is when the veil thins between this world and the next, so I always remember my passed on loved ones and try to salute them. Arent there little sugar skull candies, too?
Innana:
Yes, lots of sugar skulls and sweets (dulces). Didn't we read a book recently that included many irish spirits lost to history - Oh yes, Neil Gaiman's American Gods. You've picked this one up, of course...
I was in the middle of teaching the history of Hopi pottery to my 5th graders today, when what would pop into my mind? Dia de los Muertos. I stopped dead in my tracks and let my few Mexican students, whose parents do not speak fluent English, describe this holiday to the rest of the class. They were tremendously pleased. If I had not read your post prior to teaching today, I would not have remembered Dia de los Muertos.
Schaumi:
Made my day. Thanks for telling me that.
i have a t-shirt, purchased in austin, tx, with that exact Day of The Dead scene. artist - jose guadalupe posada. i have had the great honor and privilege to be in the interior of mexico during the celebration. your post brought forth a good memory.
salud
Champ
I missed American Gods, but thanks for the word.
As for the Mexican Day of the Dead, somehow it always makes me think of that last scene i nPlaces in the Heart, where we see the stars taking communion in a 1930s Southern church, and the camera pans down the pews, and without fanfare or emphasis, we see departed people taking communion with them: the sheriff who was shot at the beginning of the film, the young black man (later lynched) who shot him sitting next to him. It was a wonderful moment and my favourite in the whole film.
Post a Comment
<< Home