Dia de los Muertos
Tonight was Haloween. I have two kids, so it is big deal for them. For those who doesn't know what it is, it is simply a night where kids (and adults) dress up as whatever characters they want, and go around the neighborhood doing "trick or treat". This is a fun event for the kids and in my neighborhood there are kids and adults both look forward to this day for just some social interactions and family fun. So tonight, I am late. I just tucked my 'sugar-high' kids in. There was no wild party, just some time outside with neighbors.
Tomorrow and day after is Dia de los Muertos. In Houston, we have a lot of latino population, primarily from Mexico. I personally have many friends who are either from there or their family is from there, so it is another festival that my family like to celebrate.
Dia de los Muertos is a traditional Mexican festival where people essentially remember their loved ones in a sort of 'mocking' way. As if they are mocking death itself in a form of a festival. Critical aspects of dia de los muestos are as follows:
- A family gathering
- Creating a big alter
- Visiting the graves of the loved ones, bringing what they liked, bread (pan de muertos), and marigold petals
- A feast
- Painting faces in makeup of skeleton and skull/bones symbolising the dead
- A procession/walk/gathering
- Make/Eat decorative Sugar Skulls :) (my fav)
If you are thinking about The James Bond Movie Spectre featuring Zocalo area in Mexico City: no it is not that extreme! Did you know that Mexico City didn't celebrate that festival in such a grandios way before the movie? After the movie though, it is almost as grandious every year now :) Call it the James Bond effect.
Significance
I like the fact that it is spread along two days. During the first day, the souls of children are invited down to reunite with their families and the second day the souls of the adults are asked to come down and celebrated with their favorite food, drinks, and the people they loved most. These two days our loved ones come down to meet us and celebrate with us. I always feel, that our loved ones never really leave us, they stay with us in our memories. But these two days of the year, we can detach them from our memories, and sort of feel and spend time with their thoughts and memories in physical space. If that is not cool, I don't know what is! I always like to do a mockery of the death itself, and this gives me the opportunity.
Google Mexico has a nice video on the subject which I think is iconic. Hope you like it!
Never heard of such an event before dada! Maybe you could do tiny snippets of actually what is done on the two days this year. What i am particularly interested to know is how do they do the remembrance....like does it involve pretending like the passed away family member is actually with them and talk and chat and address them as if they were still around and listening...
Check that Vid above first doc. This year all celebration are muted, but that 5 min vid will get you a good idea.
Also the movie Coco :)
"....celebrating that WE are going to die, by enjoying that life we still have left."
My goodness such a powerful sentiment!
Mexicans are cool people! They are wonderfully educated and very bright. Their capital, Mexico City, I can start living any day!
I don't 'do' Dia de los Muertos but I really like the holiday. I love remembering the ancestors in a happy/party atmosphere. I just love the vibe of the time.
I may or may not eat a skull or two today. I have a big Catholic Church just down the street and they will be celebrating all day...
Same here. I don't really celebrate, but kids love the festivity as they have friends, so I enjoy the vibe alongside.
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I strongly believe above words dada. Our loved ones are always with us. Physically they might leave us but in our memories they are always alive. This is the first time I am listening about an event like this. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it is an interesting and fun festival, and quite popular here. It is today and tomorrow.
Happy dia de los muertos dada:)
Couldnt find any skeletons:3
So i wish you with vaggolokkhi:)
Very interesting info! Have you ever watched the movie Coco? Your kids would love it and so would you. Dia de los muertos is part of the movie.
Yes I have. It's a popular movie at my household
😊
retaliation flags make you look small and silly
Pot, meet kettle.
He's just reflecting on his own behaviour.