Re: [ranchos] Dia de los Muertos

In response to the past discussion of El Dia de los Muertos, I can say that in my family as well as in Ocotlan, Arandas, Atotonilco el Alto, throughout Los Altos de Jalisco, no one celebrates the holiday. That's what November 1 was for.

On that day there would be a special mass for all the deceased, especially those who died within the past year, and the Holy Rosary would be prayed. The people of Los Altos are still very Catholic, and were even more so in the past. Just remember the Cristiada, Alten~os took the Rebellion to the status of a Holy War.

The belief remains that when someon dies, their soul leaves the corpse and is then judged by God. Cemeteries have no special religious significance where the spirits of the dead still roam. They did not...they were all either in Heaven or Hell. End of story. That is why graves and cemeteries in Mexico are sometimes cleared and paved over. They are just dead bones who tell no tales...dead empty shells without a soul. I guess the Day of the Dead is mostly celebrated in areas where there is still a large indigenous population. I guess it is akin to the day of the walking dead traditions common in many pagan cultures like the Celts who started Halloween, also around the same time.

Many older family members on my mother's side have told me that an old cemetery in Ocotlan was dug up and many, not all, of the bones were dug up and placed in a special crypt in the main church. The land was then cleared paved and a little park was put there instead. My grandfather told me that his mother, Petra Salcido Aguirre, or rather her grave ended up somewhere underneath a park bench. So much for respect for the dead.

Also, I am 30 years old and when I was a child I had never even heard of Dia de los Muertos, until I was in Junior High School. Even despite the fact that my family and I made several trips back to Ocotlan, Guadalajara, and Atotonilco. I remember reading about the Day of the Dead in a book in school. Funny huh! I also had never heard of la Catrina, until I saw her picture in a History of Mexico book at University.

Well I hope everyone, especially us teachers, is having a restful...if not toasty...summer.

Regards,

Steven H.

-----Original Message-----
From: Natalie <nc_coleman@...>
To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 11:36:56 -0000
Subject: [ranchos] Dia de los Muertos

I don't remember "celebrating" this holiday as a youngster (in the 
40's & 50's), either. And it is only in the last 10-15 yrs that I 
have been exposed to this custom.
In the past two years the Smithsonian has had public programs for 
DDLM, (one day affairs) with music (strolling mariachi), dance, 
displays, and crafts.
The Mexican Cultural Institute (Washington, DC), in the building that 
formerly housed the Embassy of Mexico, have hosted a DDLM exhibit the 
past 3 yrs - with a magnificent altar in their blue & white tiled sun 
room, reception, and music. Last year there was even a woman dressed 
as La Catrina.
About 6 or 7 yrs ago I began putting up an altar in my yard (then 
moved it to the porch). I would put it up a day or two before 
Halloween - so trick or treaters would get an education when they 
came for their treats. I deviated from the standard of remembering 
and honor family members by remembering friends and family who had 
died in the previous 12 months - I would just post a list. I got a 
lot of ideas online on how to set it up. It has evolved over the 
years. Now my two oldest grand-children (ages 5 & 3) look forward to 
helping me set up the altar. As they grow older maybe they will have 
an understanding of honoring the antepasados.
Thanks to all for sharing the cemetery memories - very informative.
Happy Fourth! * * * (fireworks!)

Natalie




 
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