Well in many Latin American countries today is the day that the dead return home for a visit. Sounds ghoulish to many but in Mexico and Latin America it is a joyous period, a time to gather a remember those who have passed on. They say you die three times, once when life leaves your body, once when you are buried and lastly when no one exists who remembers you.
It is a time when the living and dead can gather together to laugh, remember and cry. It helps the living move from grief to acceptance and keeps the memory of the dead alive. Death is not something to be feared, it is just the next passage in life.
Families gather together to remember and to create alters with food, water, and flowers. It is traditional to have sugar skulls with the names of the departed written on them- thus preserving their memory. This sweet treat along with laughing skeletons bring life and laughter to death, water quenches the thirst, and pan de muerto feed sweet memories of those who have passed on to the after life.
On our campus we put together a small alter where our students could reconnect with those they have lost, to share grief, love, and laughter. Waffle and I will be spending part of today eating tamales and pan de muerto, but here is a picture of her in front of the alter we helped put together.
Feliz Dia De Los Muertos...
Besos Waffle
3 comments:
I linked to your blog. Hope you don't mind. I met you on Fun Day on the bus. You are very cute Waffle, good luck IFT!
Emily- link away, I hope you met us on the trip in as opposed to the trip home. Waffle was tired and threw a temper fit, and refused to get on the bus. Not her best moment.
Nope, it was on the way out. That is why I remembered it because of her temper tantrum. haha. They all have their moments.
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