Mr.Duck on 2/11/2015 at 19:48
Bienvenidos to the traditional TTLG Day of the Dead thread hosted by your pato from the land of the taco!
Inline Image:
http://d8nz9a88rwsc9.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/altar-de-muertos-5.jpgExample of an altar to the dead.
As many may not know, the Day of the Dead in Mexico is a celebration that takes part in the span of several days, commencing from the last days of October until November 2nd (which is when the statutory holiday is marked in the Mexican calendar).
Inline Image:
http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/assets/non_flash_386/work_124.jpgLa Calavera Catrina (the original), drawn by Jose Guadalupe Posada. OG af.
There are more than plenty of resources online to guide you into the nitty gritty of the holiday (Oh, (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead) here's one!), but the short of it is that it is a time of remembrance of our dearly departed, in which (depending how traditional you are) offerings of several sorts are made throughout the country. Then there's the actual visiting of the dearly departed at your local cemetery where many spend the night in vigil with their deceased, surrounded by gifts they bring to them.
Inline Image:
http://area-international.com/wp-content/uploads/day-of-the-dead-bread-with-bones.jpgThis with some Mexican hot chocolate is pure bliss.
Contrary to several representations of mass media (*CoughUScough*) it is actually a deeply spiritual holiday that many people take seriously, though others also try and enjoy the colorfulness it briefly brings into our lives. I'm down for whatever, as long as everyone plays nice and is respectful.
Inline Image:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/129/342168340_168f4f5db0.jpgThese guys redefine having a sweet tooth.
In my family we don't go full crazy with it, but we do make altars at our homes and some go to the cemetery for a few hours to pray and pay their respects. Of course there is sugar skull and bread of the dead om noms.
Inline Image:
https://blogyourspanishteacher.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/cementerio-mexicano.jpgVisiting the dearly departed.
Even though the holiday started in Mexico (with its roots back when it was Mesoamerica), I know other countries have their own version, and even a few have copied ours (meant in the best way possible), I think the need to remember those who have left us and pay your respects is a universal human thing. So join me, and many others, in taking a few moments out of your hectic schedule to remember those who are gone, but not forgotten.
Inline Image:
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2291984890/xelvugvszr2pklttg4ft.jpegMe and Manny Calavera thank you for reading.
Cheers.
Tocky on 3/11/2015 at 01:38
Love the tarantula cake. You know just how to give us a taste of death.
demagogue on 3/11/2015 at 08:25
Gracias como siempre for your explanation and sharing with us on this most intriguing of holidays.
Here in Japan we have the closest event I've ever seen to Day of the Dead, called Obon, where we remember our departed, give offerings at a home shrine, and put candles on little rafts in the river so their spirits can find their way home in the dark.
I have to think there's a common thread of humanity that links such distant cultures with such similar practices and sentiments.
Mr.Duck on 4/11/2015 at 05:54
Amen, dema.
Fun fact: it seems the Japanese community (small as it may be) in my homecity of Culiacan happened to go through the celebration that you talk about, with the lights ocer the river and such. :)
Funny to see what things bind us together, eh?
