Dia De Los Muertos... The Day of the Dead.

Springs Preserve... a botanical garden in the desert of Las Vegas, features many events for multiple holidays and occasions, around Christmas last year, I realized I'd never discussed an Altar or Day of the dead with Drew, so I figured i'd Google activities in our city and discover what we could learn! The Springs Preserve had a live theater and dance performances, mariachis, face painting, sugar skull decorating and an art exhibition and multiple Altars .

When I was in highschool, I had a Spanish teacher who’d taught us of day of the dead… this amazing memorial celebration commonly seen in Mexico and other Hispanic cultures to memorialize those who have passed away. (I’m going to break out some notes circa 2007 and handouts to type this blog, so bear with me… it’ll be very informative and very thorough… I have to explain it in depth so everyone understands the beauty in what it is instead of the breakdown)

When I started dating Drew, I’d explained to him that since he’s 25% Mexican, and that 25% was going to be full of culture. I can teach my children all I can until the cows come home about wonderful African American history, My parents can go on for days, and if you’ve met my grandparents… they’re a part of history! (My grandpa was physically present during the I have a dream speech at the Lincoln memorial! My grandma was the first African American, Female, Dealer (poker, blackjack, etc. In Las Vegas, My great aunt owned the first liquor store in Las Vegas… so on and so forth)

SO, I knew since Drew didn’t know much about most of his heritage culture… I knew enough about his 25% to teach him! November 1^st and 2^nd in Hispanic culture, you are to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, also known as The Day of the Dead. It is a traditional Mexican holiday dedicated to the memory of the loved ones we’ve lost. The idea is that we celebrate and remember them with joy, cheerfulness and colors.

This tradition is so full of history and symbolism that it’s one I’m hanging on to tightly to instill some meaning into these over-hyped holidays.

Altars are made in honor of family and friends that have passed away and are decorated with their pictures, personal objects or mementos and candles. Their favorite food and drinks are also placed on the altar, along with a trail of marigold flowers and fruits to create a path so their soul can find its way back and join the celebration for the day. The idea is that by placing these artifacts, flowers and foods the person will be remembered and celebrated for who they were in life and this will encourage them to pay a visit. The concept might sound spooky, but it really is celebrated with so much positiveness towards the inevitability of death, and in such a festive environment, that the feeling of being scared will rarely creep upon you.

We as Christ followers believe that death is a reason to celebrate that person going to heaven, so in no way shape or form did celebrating this holiday make us sad or spooked, a life lost is a reason to reflect, celebrate, and pray. Day of the Dead is a holiday infused with so much tradition and history that Mexico as a whole embraces it.

The most important icons associated with Día de los Muertos;

The calaca (The Skulls and skeletons Capri’s Favorite – Calaca’s are basically skeletons having a blast in their after life, The tradition is to dress them up in colorful clothes and have them appear to be dancing, playing a musical instrument, eating and just plain having fun.

The Catrina, las calaveras … otherwise known as the Skull According to Mexican Folklore, “La Catrina” also known as death, can show herself in many different ways. Sometimes she is dressed in a rather elaborate, festive way. Sometimes she appears before us in “bare bones,” to take us away when we least expect it. Generally, however, the relationship which the Mexican people have with La Catrina, is defined by a unique set of circumstances, traditionally tied with the history and culture of Mexico. Death in Mexico is thought of as a welcome guest on certain very important occasions, such as the Day of the Dead. As Mexicans, believe that death, and specifically the memory of the “fieles difuntos,” which literally means “our faithful deceased,” gives us a strong sense of identity and rootedness in the culture

Delicious pan de muerto - It literally translates into “Bread of the Dead” and is what I look forward to the most. It’s basically a soft and sweet, round-shaped bread that’s baked to place as an offering on the altars and to be shared by families and friends with hot chocolate or coffee. Traditionally, the top of the bread is decorated with pieces of dough thinly rolled out to resemble bones.(We didn’t find any at the springs last night, but we’ll go to Cardenas next year and buy some!). These are all basically representations of death in a playful way. The message is that passing away is just one more inevitable stage in life that should be met with joy because it just is what it is. Talk about chilling out!

AND Sugar Skulls - We contemplated making Sugar Skulls at Springs preserve but we didn’t have the patience, or the time… AND, we had no little ones around us to lick the sugar off… even then, we had nowhere to store them until they dried to save them for next year… so We’ll just make them next year! Sugar skulls represent and honor a departed soul. Customarily, the name of the person the altar is dedicated to is written across the skull’s forehead. I have a feeling, next to the food… this will be our children’s favorite part.

We voted for this altar to be the most

Runaway children's Alter

This Altar was for missing and runaway children, It was the Non-profit Altar we voted for, they had an ipod that played Runaway Love by Ludacris in memory of all children who do not return home after they've runaway.

This altar was made in memory of a family who lost a 13 year old boy with Muscular Distrophy, This Altar was special because they allowed Drew and I to write down the names of people we've lost to be placed on their Altar for prayer as well... it was special talking to his Aunt and his Mother and sister.