Inside the two Isla Mujeres cemeteries, freshly
cleaned and painted tombs are adorned with bright flowers, plus flickering
candles, favourite foods, personal possessions, and photographs.
It’s time to celebrate, to share a graveside
meal, and to remember the departed.
The Day of the Dead (People) begins on
October 31st. It includes November 1st, the Day of the Dead for
children, and November 2nd, the Day of the Dead for adults. Hanal
Pixán, as the Mayas call it, translates as ‘food of the souls’. It is a 3,000-year-old Mayan tradition integrated into the Catholic Church rituals
as La Día de Los Muertos in the mid-1500s.
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| San Miguel de Allende |
Día de Los Muertos is a private
family celebration that has become a public event, drawing a
huge number of visitors to nearby Mérida and other cities such as San Miguel de
Allende.
A Facebook friend recently asked if there
were any activities planned on Isla for the Día de Los Muertos. I had to reply, “I don’t know.” City-organized events tend to be advertised very last minute,
so maybe or maybe not.
Although last
year, for the first time, the Jean Piaget private school sponsored a silent
parade, the Festival de Los Animas. It was fascinating to see the students and
public figures beautifully dressed.
They silently walked
the length of Hidalgo Avenue past bustling restaurants and bars,
culminating at the Casa de Cultura with a public display of altars or ofrendas.
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| Festival de las Animas |
We put up an altar at our house in
remembrance of our parents; Lawrie’s and his sister Linda’s, brother-in-law
Richard Grierson’s, and my parents.
A few years ago, we had a neighbourhood
gathering to celebrate our friends’ parents as well. The years have flown so quickly, and now many of us find ourselves representing the
oldest generation in our families.
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| One of our 'ofrendas' |
There are no set-in-stone rules for building a Día de Los Muertos altar, but it should at least incorporate the basics. If you can, include an archway to represent the passage between life and death. The archway can be made of something light and flexible and covered with flowers.
Then add candles to light the way. Marigold flowers, to attract the souls of
your loved ones. A glass of water to quench the thirst of the spirits (although
beer or tequila seems to be an acceptable option). A few personal trinkets, toys, and chocolate for children, plus photos of the people you are honoring. If you live in Mexico, don’t forget to include the pan de Muertos, a special bread available at most grocery stores and bakeries at this time of the year. Add other favourite foods to feed the hungry souls, and burn incense to chase away bad spirits.
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| Yani Medina, Mayan meal for the celebration. |
The altars are traditionally set up in three
levels by using a series of empty boxes and crates covered over with a large
tablecloth or material. The number of levels depends on the personal beliefs
of the altar designer. Two levels might symbolize heaven and earth, while three
would represent heaven, purgatory, and earth. Some altars include seven levels
to represent the seven steps to Heaven.
Whatever your personal beliefs, the basic idea
is to create a display that celebrates your loved
ones.
Cheers from paradise, Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, & Max
Now available in paperback on Amazon!
By CA reviews on September 26, 2017
Yasmin and Jessica are back, and the gold they found in Treasure Isla is still haunting them, especially when Carlos, their boss at the Loco Lobo, and Yasmin’s new lover, is kidnapped. No spoilers here, but his captivity and the girls’ efforts to free him, with the help of Carlos’s pals—including local Isla Mujeres fishermen and a Mexico City cop—are the crux of this fast-paced story. Lock has created not only a compelling and authentic setting but a well-developed ensemble cast. The next Isla mystery can’t come fast enough.
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