Bones

Mexican Feast

2nd of November

In the United States, Halloween is celebrated every year one day before All Souls Day, which means that all souls, good and bad come back and haunt the living. That is why we use costumes to make them think we are one of them, and prevent them to haunt us. Well, at least that is the old concept.

In México it is a little bit more complex. Day of the Dead is a fusion between Pre-Hispanic and Catholic beliefs.

It is celebrated the 2nd of November. And we believe that in that date, every year, God allows our loved ones to come back and enjoy what they enjoyed in life, food, drinks, music, dances, whatever they liked. So we do a huge party for them, with those things they must long for.

Some parties take place at the graveyard, prayers, food, and lots of memories. But most people now, do an Altar at home, photographs of the loved one that passed away, some of their favorite foods, cigarette brands, candies, sugar skulls, and favorite drinks. It is a feast that celebrates the life of someone that has passed away.

It is a way of saying:

“Although you passed away we remember and love you, you are still part of this family, you are deeply missed”.

This has been the feast for several centuries, but not until 1910, that a very special character got into the feast.

In an underground newspaper from the Mexican Revolution, José Guadalupe Posada, made a cartoon, of a very elegant Lady, using the French style clothing very popular in the upper wealthy class in Mexico, at the beginning of the 20th century.

The name that the cartoonist gave her was “ Catrina”. Which means, Fancy or Elegant Lady in a very old Spanish slang. The idea of this cartoon is that you might be very wealthy, charismatic, beautiful, whatever, you will still look the same as everyone else.

Everybody has a skeleton in themselves and regardless of their beliefs, race, ugliness or beauty, we all are the same, and will look the same after passing away.

During and after the Revolution, it became a common custom to make cartoons of skeletons, with funny rhymes of living people, that are in government or artists and popular characters. They come out in all newspapers, and the rhymes are very clever. We might as well laugh at death… while we are still alive..

This feast has taken a global interest. We all are the same, we all have a skeleton in us, and a loved one that has passed away.

Here in Tucson, a parade takes place downtown on the streets. It is a Parade worthy of taking part in.

There also are several big exhibitS of Day of the Dead Altars, one worthwhile visiting is at the Centro Cultural of the Americas, on Broadway and Stone.

Hopefully you will go there this year. And I hope this explanation will make you party with your loved ones this year.

AND REMEMBER…. We should enjoy Here, while we are Here, because there is no Here… There. Cley