Candy corn, costumed kids, ghouls, goblins, and scary stories. The traditions of the American (commercialized) Halloween are good for a few laughs and scares, but this time of year is a great example of how embracing our own mortality can be a celebration of life. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional holiday, originating from Latin America spanning Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. The most well-known celebrations of Dia de los Muertos originate from Mexico where whimsical artistic expressions of skeletons help people remember and commemorate their loved ones. It originated with the indigenous cultures of Mexico (Aztec, Olmec, Maya, etc) and was later merged with Catholic themes as those two cultures merged in the past few centuries.
With a superficial glance, celebrating and honoring the dead may seem morbid or perverse, especially to those who may see death as a taboo subject, only to be talked about when necessary. But Dia de los Muertos helps break the somber tone with a various traditions that I wanted to share with you here. This is a great theme to bring up in palliative care as a teaching point or in counseling and working with patients and families in how to embrace mortality as a celebration of life.
Celebrating the lives of the deceased
Dia de los Muertos is a time to go to cemeteries and bring gifts to deceased loved ones. Toys for children or flowers, candy, food and even alcohol for adults. There people often eat and picnic near those who have already died. In addition altars are made with pictures, candles and other memorabilia celebrating the deceased.
Symbols
The skull is omnipresent in Dia de los Muertos altars, decorations, and costumes. It is typically drawn in a light hearted way, and some art portrays skeletons in colorful, comical situations. The symbol of a skull is also highlighted in food preparation with sugar skulls, cakes, and other foods decorated with them. It is interesting how the skull has recently been raised in teen pop culture and clothing in the past two years, often in a ironic and funny way.
Food
The above mentioned sugar skulls are a popular treat. They are for eating, not just for decorations. Pan de muerto (bread of the dead) is another popular food made during this celebration.
It would be nice to see some of these traditions given some attention in the United States outside of the Southwest. Death does not have to be solely perceived as the inability to cure. The traditions that help us preserve the memory of deceased loved ones are important. Hospice and palliative care teams could engage their local communities to highlight these traditions. It might make us all a little less fearful of death and more appreciative of the short lives we have.
Here is one of the better of many YouTube videos showing the festivities in Mexico.
Photo Credits:
Wikipedia entry José Guadalupe Posada
Flickr.Com users Jonas Romo, Simon Crubellier, xxtickleticklexx
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Celebrations Reflecting Mortality: Halloween, Day of The Dead
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6 comments:
I enjoyed your comments and pictures regarding celebrations connected to death. They reminded me of the tradition of jazz funerals in New Orleans, Louisiana, my hometown.
After mourners “cut the body loose” at the cemetery and leave, a rousing celebration begins. The funeral procession continues through the streets, growing in size with many community members, collectively called “second liners,” joining in and dancing to the music. “When the Saints Go Marching In” is a popular song. Bars are visited along the route, and many people bob decorated umbrellas or wave handkerchiefs to the beat. It’s a jubilant send-off that epitomizes death as an event for rejoicing.
Frances Shani Parker
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
The Mennonite church I'm part of in Madison has an All Soul's service each year. The church meets in the evening. During part of the service, the lights are dimmed. The front of the church has tables filled with candles which are then lit in memory of people who have died, some in the last year, some years ago. People share stories, laughter, tears. Children in the church are part of this remembering. Songs that were favorites of loved ones conclude the evening, often joyful songs sung acapella in 4-part harmony.
This year, the service incorporated other ways of expressing this, with a period of drumming and the signing of a book of rememberance, tapping into people's different ways of expressing themselves.
Even though I now live 2 1/2 hours away, it is a service I try to come back for this time for me to remember the patients and others I've cared for in the past year.
Christin,
I think you have touched a nerve--or emotion--or memory. Great post. Thanks. Immediately reminded me of a retreat I attended at Upaya, a Buddhist center in Santa Fe. They, of course, are in the Southwest and influenced by the Mexican culture. There are several skulls and other Dia de los Muertos images on display.
Thanks. I had no idea. I'm going to quiz the kids tonight.
Thanks for all the great comments. It is nice to hear there are other events similar to this.
One of the points I did not make in the post that is important is that events like Day of the Dead are not meant to take away from personal reflections around the time of a loved ones anniversary, birthday death day etc. But when we have times to get together and communally celebrate and not just memorialize with somber mood, these too can be important on an individual and public basis.
Thanks for selecting my Youtube video for your Día de los muertos post. Just so glad you happened to like it. =) Greetings!!!
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