Day of the Dead

November 1, 2 and 3 are set aside for Mexican people to honor their ancestors. Today is the Day of the Dead, and last night I went to an exhibition at a local university campus to see the altars honoring Mexico's people who have passed on. The students at UABC put together a fabulous and beautiful display, which is running for three nights.

I am including photographs I took of the altar for Frieda, Mexico's famous artist, and Bonito Juarez, a Mexican hero. Each step on the altars is significant, bearing the offerings given by the living people. Food is offered for the soul's sustenance in the other world, candles light the path to Heaven and also between the worlds of the living and the dead. There is music and food and rememberance; it is truly beautiful and a tradition that is being lost in Northern Mexico because of the encroachment of American culture and the celebration of Halloween, yet the truly devoted still celebrate both Haloween and the Day of the Dead.

I was delighted to see children in the streets on Halloween night, their adult family members accompanying them en masse. They stop at a house and shout in unison, "TRICKY TRICKY HALLOWEEN!" In a singsong voice that is endearing and a welcome relief to the usual "Trick or treat." All of the children wore homemade costumes and ample face paint, and they didn't care if they had a proper Halloween bag or a simple grocery bag. They were all very happy and excited to get a special treat. I had purchased "Bon e Bons," a rather upmarket wrapped chocolate candy, and the squeals of delight and ohhhhhhhhs and ahhhhhhhhhs and GRACIAS, SENORA, MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!!!! was enough to warm my heart.