Yesterday the door bell rang and when I went to answer it no one was there. We have a few neighbor kids that love to ring the door bell and run so I opened the door, waited for movement somewhere, and out from behind a car came three little boys. I scolded them by saying "no mas ninos". They all looked at me as one little boy held up a bucket. I walked over to see what he had and started laughing. The bucket was in the shape of a skeleton and the boys wanted candy. I told them to return in five days and I will have a treat for them.
Halloween as we know it in the States is making its way south of the border. I saw costumes and masks at Walmart and now PV has several parties are scheduled.
The traditional Mexican holiday at this time of year is called Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and the celebration begins at midnight, October 31st and continues for two days. The Halloween holiday in the U.S. is about fearing death, but in Mexico death, or the memories of those who have died, is to be celebrated.
Below is a section of an article written up in a PV online newspaper:
Every year on November 1st (All Saint's Day) and 2nd (All Soul's Day), something unique takes place in many areas of Mexico: Day of the Dead festivities. While it's strange for most of us to accept the fact that "death" and "festivities" can go hand-in-hand, for most Mexicans, the two are intricately entwined.
This all stems from the ancient indigenous peoples of Mexico (the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations) who believed that the souls of the dead return each year to visit with their living relatives - to eat, drink and be merry. Just like they did when they were living.
Generalizing broadly, the holiday's activities consist of families (1) welcoming their dead back into their homes, and (2) visiting the graves of their close kin.
In their homes, Mexicans build altars where they place flowers, food and the favorite objects of loved ones who have passed away. Family members light candles, play music, and pray in a unique joyful mood.
At the cemetery, they engage in sprucing up the dearly departed's grave site with flowers, religious amulets and offerings of food, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. They then set out a picnic and share a meal and stories about the departed with other family and community members who gather there.
The meals prepared for these picnics are sumptuous, usually featuring meat dishes in spicy sauces, chocolate beverages, cookies, sugary confections in a variety of fun and frightening shapes and, of course, pan de muerto, or "bread of the dead.
"Because of this warm social environment, the colorful setting, and the abundance of food, drink and good company, this commemoration of the dead has pleasant overtones for observers. However, if you are attending a celebration, it is wise to remember that these are reverent events steeped in generations of tradition and culture."
The cemeteries in Mexico are truly amazing. Some families build a shrine in the shape of a house that several members are buried in while others erect beautiful statues. Many shrines are nicer than houses that many families live in.
An alter for Bob Howell, who passed away a very short time ago. Bob, along with his
partner Vicki, are very well known in the community for helping the poor.
I wish our culture in the U.S. was more like Mexico. Death isn't something to be feared but is a part of life. Celebrate life, don't mourn deaths.
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