Today is my favorite Mexican Holiday el Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. We celebrate every November 1st is All Saints Day, and November 2nd All Souls Day.
It has always been a fascination for me to see how different cultures trough out the world have very different concepts of dead...and yet we all are mortals..almost all! (I believe).
Where I come from there is a culture/tribe called Raramuri people more known as the Tarahumara or "the running people." It is said that when one of them die, they avoid crying for the dead instead they celebrate with a sort of party/funeral, they are afraid the soul of the dead would feel sad for them and won't return to its resting place. While it's strange to accept the fact that "death" and "festivities" can go hand-in-hand, for most Mexicans, the two are intricately entwined. To me its all about the smell of different flowers together, the taste of "Dead Bread" and sugar cane, the colors, the music play for the dead (supposedly their favorite songs), the finding,cleaning,and decorating of crosses of our dear ones... it is truly a day to live with your 5 senses:
Al fin que para morir nacimos.
Al vivo todo le falta y al muerto todo le sobra.
At last we all were born to die.To the living all is missing and for the dead all is left.
P.S. If you want to taste some "Dead Bread" go to any local Mexican store they have some for sure (only today, since its only made this time of the year) ask for " Pan de Muerto" I asure you it doest taste like its name!!
1 comments:
just found your blog today...and your webpage for your art. there is no doubt that you are very talented. thank you so much for sharing.
i've always loved learning about different cultures too and i think because of the strong latin influence in southern california (where i grew up) i've always been drawn to latin culture.
LOVED your perspective (and description) on Dia de los muertos. this holiday is truly intriguing to me...how people celebrate and how they deal with death...all rolled up in one together. a very interesting study of culture.
don't know that i've ever tried Pan de Muerto...i think i just may have to this year. :)
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