October, 2006
El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)
An Indigenous Woman in the Cementery
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El Día de los Muertos is one of the most important holidays in Mexico. It is a time when relatives honor their loved ones who have
passed on. Traditionally, a family packs a picnic lunch to take to the cementery where they will spend several hours with friends and relatives,
decorating the tombs with fresh cempasúchil flowers (marigolds), sharing their food and remembering the people who were important in their lives.
At night, the camposanto (hallowed ground) is awash in the light of the
innumerable candles that have been placed on the graves.
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Tamales, Candy and Sugar Skulls
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The Spencer-Martinez Altar
An Altar for Grandmother Suzanne
The Cementery
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Some families cutomarily build a small altar that is decorated with fresh flowers and ones made of tissue paper, pictures, candles and personal things of
the deceased, such as a favorite hat, a pair of shoes or a key ring, for example. And don't forget his or her favorite food and drinks!
The building of the altar requires a good deal of planning and its construction may require an entire week or more.
A cross is formed with four candles, which represent the cardinal points of the compass as well as the four basic elements Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.
The fruit and vegetables placed on the altar represent the Earth; Air blows through the banners made of cut paper; Fire is present with the illumination of the candles;
a container of Water reminds us of baptism and also serves to slake the thirst of the souls that return to earth.
Each color has a specific meaning: white represents heaven; purple, mourning; yellow, earth, for example.
The path to lead the soul to the altar is formed with flower petals and lighted by candles.
Contrary to popular belief, the tradition of building and decorating altars is a relatively recent tradition, having been introduced by the Spanish clergy in the mid-1500's.
The atmosphere is religious, but joyous also,
because El Día de los Muertos is a time of celebration, not sadness, when amusing anecdotes about the deceased are recalled.
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The Lighted Path for the Soul
An Altar for Rand and John
Anahí, Lupita and Brian
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Érika and Mireya
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At La Casa de los Niños, three altars were constructed: one, in memory of
Cameron, Lauren, Matt and Kailee; another honored
the deceased grandmother of students Lisa and Kevin; the third remembered John and Rand, friends of our dear visitors Jim and Sandy.
Many, many thanks to Anahí, Lupita, Brian, Érika and Mireya, Randy, Arturo and Manuel, who spent a lot of afternoons designing and building the altars,
and to all the kids who drew, cut, pasted and painted or helped in one way or another to make our celebration special.
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Randy, Arturo and Manuel
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