The Strange and Beautiful Dia de los Muertos of Mexico
La Calavera Catrina, or ‘elegant skull’, is everywhere you look the first two days in November in Mexico. You will find the skull of La Catrina on the faces of babies, the elderly, and everyone in between.
Death touches everyone.
To put simply, Dia de los Muertos is a national embrace of death-an acknowledgment of those that have passed and the inevitable fate of the living. It is strange, beautiful, and oh so necessary custom.
The Buddhist monk, Tich Nhat Hanh had this to say about meditating on death:
"Meditating on death is not about becoming morbid or negative. It is about learning to live each moment to the fullest and to appreciate the preciousness of life. When we know that our time is limited, we are more likely to make the most of it and to live in the present moment."
Each day brings us one day closer to our own death, after all. The thought brings me into the present moment like no other, and living in the present is absolutely crucial for a peaceful existence.
“None of us are promised any time on this earth,” was a common refrain from my grandmother. I can feel her whispering in my ear as I write this.
Contrary to popular opinion, the holiday in Mexico started much further back in time than the arrival of Catholics, and although it is synchronized with All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day (the Catholics were smart about integrating native religious customs into their religious calendar) the tradition comes directly from the local indiginous people, particularly the Aztecs and Mayans.
Native Mesoamericans believed that the dead returned to the realm of the living during this time, and the altars were a way to guide their ancestors home.
And can we talk about altars? Alters are such a focused, intentional, and beautiful way to connect with loved ones and ancestors on the other side of the divide. A sort of lighted runway path for the spirits. They are a powerful tool to reach across the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
The altars in the Jardin (central square) in San Miguel de Allende were artfully and lovingly made to honor and connect with the beloved dead. But altars need not be elaborate or big to be effective. They just need to be made with care and intention.
Altars not only welcome back the spirits of the dead, they also provide them with sustenance for their journey.
Altars typically include:
Photos of the deceased
Their favorite foods and drinks
Objects that were important to them in life
Flowers, especially cempasúchil (marigolds)
Candles
Incense
Growing up as a Methodist in Oklahoma, I wasn’t exposed to altars to my loved ones and ancestors, and what a shame that was. I think my own culture would benefit immensely from more connections between the seen and the unseen, the known and unknown. I think this has a way of keeping people grounded and focused on what’s really important in life.
Let's endeavor to make a world with more altars, more connections to ancestors, and just a whole lot more magic.
Here is an excerpt from a poem about Dia de los Muertos- ‘Ode to the Dead’ by Natalie Diaz…
O dead, we remember you.
We remember the way your laughter rang out,
The way your eyes crinkled when you smiled,
The way your hands felt in ours.We remember the stories you told us,
The lessons you taught us,
The love you shared with us.O dead, we honor you.
We honor your memory on this day,
And on every day that follows.We honor the life you lived,
And the legacy you left behind.O dead, we keep you close in our hearts.
We carry you with us wherever we go.You are a part of us,
And we will never forget you.
Stay magical, y’all.
PS: The history of La Catrina is a fascinating part of Mexican history and the custom is not as old as you might think. You can learn more about it in this super interesting article by National Geographic HERE.
