The Day of the Dead

 

I never knew about the Day of the Dead until I came to the Valley. I had no idea why people wear amulets of death around their necks or why they put images of death on their vehicles or in their homes. I found it especially odd, because these images were not reserved for Halloween. They pretty much show off the image of death at any time of the year and worship her as their protector. Then, one day, when I was in Mexico, I saw all of these funny shadowboxes of skeletons getting married and doing everyday things. What was this great fascination with the dead?!  Although the Mexican culture is poor, Ive seen them parading and dancing in the streets in colorful Aztec costumes and traditional Mexican dresses. There is music and more music, and even though the Anglo culture sees death as a tragedy, the Mexican culture celebrates it as a day of joy.              I thought the holiday had to do with the Mexican culture, but it is actually a blend of two cultures: The Indian and the European. The legend has it that when we die, our soul goes to the Land of the Dead and one day out of the year, is permitted to return home to be with our loved ones. Thus, the preparation for The Visit. Much like the Egyptians~ the Aztec, Mayan and Toltec people used to bury their dead in earthen pots, surrounded with things that they will need in the after-life. The same principal applies for the preparation for The Visit. When a guest comes into your home, you honor them and surround them with the things they love(d). Some people go to the cemetary to celebrate. They clean the graves and decorate the graves with things that the deceased used to like, including liquor, candy, etc. People take picnic baskets and sing and play music and some people are said to sleep at the graves until morning. Other people prepare their homes, pretty much as you would prepare for a guest: linens are set out for the guest to sleep, washbins are set out so they can clean up, and the deceased favorite foods and drink are set out for them to eat. The culture believes that we have three deaths: the one when our body stops functioning, the one when we are buried in the ground, and the one when there is no one left alive to remember us.                                       To prepare for the Day of the Dead, the Mexican people set up an altar. The altar is made with empty boxes stacked in several layers and covered with a white cloth. The top layer holds four candles, one for each direction, and include such things as sugar skulls and skeletons, pictures of deceased relatives, friends and icons, flowers, food, fruit, water, and ordinary things that the deceased enjoyed in real life such as cigarettes, liquor or beer.  The altar is adorned with marigolds, which is called the flower of the dead, and scented candles. The candles play an important part of the altar, because it is said that they call the spirits home; therefore, the candles should not be blown out or the spirits will leave. The candles must be put out with the head of a marigold flower. I do not know who nominated my journal for the Vivi Awards, but I am in competition for BEST COLLEGE. For my credentials, please refer to previous entry! Thank you for considering me for this honor. You can get details about how to vote @: http://journals.aol.com/siennastarr/2006-vivi-award-journal/