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Meeting my guide-2
I roamed the buzzing streets of Mexico until I reached the home I'd be staying at for the next couple days. The home belonged to a family friend by the name of Carla. She came through the front door with open arms which I happily embraced. I pulled away though as I realized she had something on her face. Her face was slightly marked with whispy black markings. When I asked about it, she simply responded, "I couldn't wait to celebrate, so I painted a little to satisfy my impatience." -
Arrival-1
I arrived in Mexico City to a busy scene of various colors decorating the streets. Skulls and skeletons already covered many homes and store fronts. -
Meal Prep-3
When we went inside, delicious smells filled my nose making my mouth water. I hurried to the kitchen to find several meals being prepared. Dishes lined the counter while more were getting prepped by Carla's family. Laughter filled the messy room which made me smile, the vibe of their house warm and welcoming. Although the Day of the Dead is about remembering your loved ones, it was celebrated with such joy and exubilation for those who departed but still live in our hearts. -
The End of the Day-4
I ended up helping her family prep some of their loved ones favorite meals to place on altars the next day. We prepared dishes such sugar skulls, tamales and champurrados. They would be saved for tomorrows first alter for Rico, Carla's son she lost during birth. They told me children were usually celebrated November 1st which was also known as the Day of Innocence. After some time I went to my room and fell asleep, ready for tomorrow to begin. -
The Cemetary-7
After many prayers by Carla and her family, she motioned for me to follow her. We arrived at a cemetary a couple streets down. The sight of people crowding headstones cluttered with candles, pictures and flowers had me in awe as I aimlessly followed Carla to a small headstone. "Rico," it read, "difundir más amor en un segundo que cualquier otra persona." Beautiful. The only word that came to mind. Carla began cleaning the grave, pulling weeds and such, then proceeded to decorate. -
All Saints Day-5
Carla woke me up the next day telling me to "iPrisa! iPrisa!" I had to get ready for mass for today was All Saints Day. On this day, the people would go to mass to offer prayer for the dead. It was a humble morning, the cathedral filled with citizens praying for their loved ones but of nothing grim. I overheard several prayers of thanks for the lives those lost had lived. They were thankful for being given such people in their lives. -
The Altar-6
After Mass, Carla's family and I walked back home. On the way, I noticed other families crafting altars with colorful skulls and dishes. We soon did so too, bringing decorations outside for Rico's altar. I placed the plate of sugar skulls next to some candles that smelled of sugar cookies, then carefully dotted different candies on the table as the others placed pictures, toys and marigolds at his headstone. Marigolds were used to guide the spirit to the altar with its bright colors. -
The parade-8
After Rico's grave was neat and adorned with decor, the sound of music and laughter filled my ears. I looked towards the center of town where bright lights emanated from above the buildings. I quickly hurried towards the commotion, Carla's family not far behind and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw what was drawing me there. Thousands of people danced down the streets in dresses and painted faces. Music came from every street corner. It was a lively night celebrating the young ones lost. -
Dancing-9
I danced on the sidewalk as I watched women draped in colorful clothes sway there way down the streets. Neon skulls painted across their faces shown brightly against the night sky. Bands played cheerful music nonstop, their grins never faltering. One woman came over to me, grabbed my hands and spun me around earning a loud cheer from the crowd surrounding me. I gave a hearty laugh as Carla came to me clapping her hands to the beat. I would never forget this Day of Innocence. -
Day of the Dead-12
She also told me that Day of the Dead, it rituals, the culture, has been around for thousands of years since the Aztecs. They started these rituals as an honoring for loved ones which the Spaniards adapted and deemed sacrilegious. Now its celebrated from October 31-November 2 around the same time as Halloween although the two holidays are completely different. Halloween was once a tradition by Celtics to keep the ghosts away but later became a day for candy and costumes for self enjoyment. -
Colorful Concrete-14
We soon after were on our way to the center of town, dozens of families following us. The "tap, tap" of feet on the stone roads grew louder as the illuminated sidewalks shone brighter. Lights and neon skulls littered the streets, beads were being tossed to citizens as they lined the concrete. Carla stopped me before I stood at the front and turned me towrads her. She had a small palette and a brush and quickly painted a design on my face. "There! iTener alegría!" -
Colorful Concrete cont.-15
I turned just in time to see a skeleton about fifteen feet high waddle down the road. It was covered in flowers and wore a white dress that flew behind it like doves. On a huge float behind it, the top half of a skeleton was dressed in a suit, a cigar dangling from its mouth. Dancers wearing rainbow colored bows and sombreros moved to the beat of the music that radiated from the guitarist at the front. A line of children came next, each holding a bunch of balloons for the other kids watching. -
Colorful Concrete end.-16
More skeletons and dancers passed, one even placed a bouquet of flowers onto my head, the scent of roses and marigolds overwhelming my senses. The last couple days had been fun. We celebrated the life and the death of family members and grew closer in doing so. We all eventully grew tired from the hours of cheers so home sounded like a good idea. Even I was exhausted from such an eventful day of many colors. When I closed my eyes, I could still see the marigold in the sillhouttes of my eyelids. -
La Catrina-10
I woke the next morning revved to start the day. I joined Carla and her family for breakfast before creating the altars around their home for family members. Bottles of there favorite alcoholic beverages were placed next to a sculpture of a skeleton. I had seen this skeleton many times before so I decided to ask who she was. Carla informed me this skeleton was La Catrina who was once a high society woman. She is depicted in lots of images and art during Day of the Dead. -
A New Understanding-11
After the altars were filled with dishes, marigolds, candles and more, the family began to celebrate and pray thanks. I leaned in close to Carla as her parents danced to her brothers guitar playing and asked why they celebrated this in the first place. She told me and I will never forget, "We know death. We joke about, caress, sleep, and celebrate it. Yes, there is as much fear as in that of others, but at least death isn't hidden away: we look at it face to face, with impatience or irony." -
Graves-13
Later that day, we visited the cemetary once again, pulling weeds and dusting the headstones before decorating them. The marigolds glowed in the candlelight as famalies spoke to loved ones. I smiled as Carla's mother placed a hand on her mothers grave. It truley felt as if the spirits of those who passed were there celebrating with us. It was a warm couple of hours, standing by the candles and humming to different songs in celebration. I didn't want to leave, I had felt at peace. -
Departure-17
I woke the next morning sad to go but glad to have spent time with Carla and her family. I had learned so much about the past and present Day of the Dead. Guiding spirits home once a year to honor them and their departure. Giving them parades to show our happiness and to show up death in a way. It was amazing. I'll never forget my time here and hope to come back sometime to join in celebration and exuberance.
