A Day For The Dead

There are many traditions that have a time to remember those who have passed on. In Mexico in particular and Latin America generally, there is a tradition that is a mash up of the Aztec tradition of honoring the dead and the Catholic All Saints Day--this is a conquistador tactic that has a brutal past, where the Spaniards destroyed local places of worship and built a church on top of it, so there is a grizzly past for this but one that has been embraced in modern times. Celebrants are assured that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness, so instead the day celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Dia de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones. So I take this time to reflect on my own loved ones who have left before me, and to hope that there will be those who remember me when I am gone.