Day of the Dead

This is one of my new favorite holidays. Seems odd, a holiday that sounds more like a horror film, but that’s why it’s so special. Celebrated initially in Mexico and now in many parts of the world by Latin cultures and really just lots of people (like me because it’s awesome), November 1st and 2nd are days where the dead are honored. Connected to All Saints Day, it is believed that on these two days, the dead and living can more easily interact.

This might be the perfect time to call a psychic medium and connect with someone who has passed. People build altars and place pictures of their loved ones who have died on the altar to show respect and love. They place flowers, especially marigolds, and food and water as offerings to the deceased. If the idea itself wasn’t just beautiful, the colors and costumes that come with the festivities are enough to make you feel like Disneyland is in black and white. Orange, yellow, green, red, you name it, it’s not your all black at a funeral. This is a time to remember fondly those we miss and love. It’s a time to laugh together and truly show respect to those who have passed to another realm.

I just think it’s so wonderful to take two days (the least we can do) to honor those we love who have passed before us. And not just honor them, but celebrate them. It’s not a funeral, it’s a party with music and parades. Families visit cemeteries and leave flowers and offerings for their deceased loved ones. People dress in colorful clothing, and paint their faces like skeletons.

I think it touches me so much because like many people, I have moments where I fear death and what comes after–and this holiday just brings such a colorful spirituality that not only comforts me but also allows me to take time to remember my grandparents and friends who I usually think about with a pain in my heart. Now I think of them with such joy and know they would be happy too to know they were being honored in such a festive way. This holiday makes me cry happy tears. I never thought I’d find a skull so pretty but it is.

At the core, we are all made of the same bone, we all have a soul that will eventually leave this physical plane–but to know that we can celebrate death is celebrating life and all of us that go through this cycle. This holiday makes the dark light and the light dark, at least for me, it throws a warm colorful blanket on something that is so painful for many of us, losing a loved one. We can all cuddle in our celebration and know that our love is felt by those we lost.