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Day of the Dead

© Kara L.C. Jones

I will post a new "November" article here on the first, but for this last few days of October, I wanted to post an article about Day of the Dead. Lots of people think Halloween is just costumes and candy with no real meaning behind them. But since the days of the Aztec people, there has been celebration in Mexico at this time of year for Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. It's a celebration that got moved from summer to fall by the Spanish Christians who were trying to "marry" the Aztec's ancient celebration with All Soul's Day-- in the effort to "tame" or "christianize" the cultural heritage they encountered in Mexico. But I must say BRAVO to the traditions that have evolved here-- it's definitely more like the Mexican people said, "Okay, fine, you can have the date you want, but this celebration is all ours!" And they've made Day of the Dead an amazing tradition.

From my own experience with this celebration, I can tell you that it's the only way I've seen that humanizes death and all the long-term aspects of dealing with life after the death of a loved one. Death isn't glorified. Death isn't feared. Our loved ones on the other side are leading live parallel to what we live here-- it's a continuation-- there is a veil between here and there. And around the time of Halloween, that veil gets pulled back!

It is believed that the pungent smell of the marigold flowers-- blooming like crazy in Mexico at this time of year-- is the smell that calls the dead back to us. It is believed that the flocks of migrating monarch butterflies are the souls of the dead returning. Altars or ofrendas are built in homes and stores and on the streets during the entire month of October. These ofrendas hold photos of deceased loved ones, candies, sugar candy skulls decorated like fancy masks, candles, flowers, bread, fruit, and items that might have meant a lot to the deceased. These ofrendas can be simple and beautiful or elaborate and stunning! The grave yards are cleaned up. Individual families take care of the grave stones of their loved ones. The grave yard is decorated with light and flowers. The

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