Winding Things Down
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007Fall is an interesting time of year. It’s a good time to hibernate, cuddle up and re-evaluate where we’ve been and where we hope we’ll end up. That is, to me, what’s behind Halloween and Day of the Dead. It’s a time when yesterday blends with today and tomorrow.
We are setting up our altar tonight, as most Mexicans here in southern Mexico do, to honor and remember our loved ones. On one side is my dad, with an unopened beer, and a Sandy cookie to take with him to the other side. The other end of the altar is dedicated to my husband’s grandparents. We’re not sure what delicacy we’ll give them this time around.
Meanwhile, my husband’s daughter is at a Halloween party. They say they may even go trick or treating, although no one has ever heard of kids around here doing that. When she comes back, we’ll carve jack-o-lanterns and tell ghost stories.
We’re living an interesting mix of beliefs and traditions. We take what can from each of them to help us better understand big issues like death, loss, fears and darkness within the comfort of a loving family.
That is, after all, the beauty behind festivities and the cultural richness that we experience on a daily basis.
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BurnzPost will be slipping into hibernation for awhile. If you’d like to keep up with my ramblings from Xalapa, I invite you to visit A Little Chipi Chipi until further notice. You can check it out here.
Cemetery in Michoacan