Today is the last day of the holiday known as Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead.
It comes across the border to us from Mexico where ofrendas or altars are erected, often around the graves of the departed, to welcome back their souls.
I had forgotten it until my longtime friend Diane mentioned it in an email to SWMBO.
Once years ago she had visited us where we were living in Mexico at the time of the holiday and we had taken her to the graveyard in the town of Ajijic to see the decorations.
Graves are decorated with great numbers of flowers, both real and paper, and favorite foods and drinks of the departed ones are brought to welcome him or her.
Music is played and picnics are held at the sites.
It is not so much solemn as joyous as memories are renewed and celebrated.
Here in Arizona, which has a large Mexican population, the event is celebrated in much the same way.
Once after our ex-pat years in Mexico I spotted this piece in an art gallery in Jerome and purchased it.
But someone who lives here says it gives her the creeps so it remains unhung.
UPDATE: I just discovered that Sharon has a wonderful post about the event in Phoenix on her blog today. Check it out by clicking on Phoenix Daily Photo.
We live in San Diego area and the Dia de los Muertos is important. Some Mexicans go back to their families and participate in the holiday at their cemetery.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate Day of the Dead because it is such a great way to celebrate the memories of passed loved ones. Plus, I enjoy visiting cemeteries.
ReplyDeleteWe used to visit cemeteries too. A couple of our friends thought we were nuts!
DeleteThanks for the shout out. I'll have two more posts from the same event tomorrow and Friday.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos from the cemetery in Mexico.
Thanks for showing those shots from Mexico. It seems to be a really good tradition.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really done here in any significant amount.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a laudable tradition. We all remember The Dead but it's nice to have a special day set aside for communal remembrance of those who have left us in body.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely way to honor the dead.
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting piece of art and a good graphic, but I'm not so sure I'd want to face it each morning before my first cup.
ReplyDeleteI like the picture, but would prefer it colourful instead of greys. I love the art known as Sugar Skulls and have had a couple of calendars with a different skull each month.
ReplyDeleteOver 50 years ago my husband and I spent a summer in Mexico and visited Ajijic. At the time, there were many retired Americans living nearby. My parents were Mexican immigrants and our family was born and raised in California. My parents didn’t celebrate Mexican holidays. I don’t know why they we’re never mentioned or discussed. Our focus was on being law abiding citizens and working. It wasn’t until I grew up and begin teaching that I became acquainted with dis de Los muertos.
ReplyDelete