Dia de Los Muertos

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Unlike the midwest, in California, Dia de los muertos is a significant day. California, after all, was part of Mexico from 1821,when Mexico gained independence from Spain to 1846 when it became part of the United States. Celebrating dia de los muertos is a major Mexican tradition that continues to this day in "Alta California". In the Catholic religion the two days following the pagan Halloween are celebrations of those who have gone on before us. November 1st is All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation and All Souls Day, a day given to recognize our dead ancestors. Now when I was growing up, in a Catholic family, All Saints Day meant we got the day after Halloween off from school. What a boon. We went to church in the morning and gorged on our loot from the previous evening afterward seeing if we could trade a box of milk duds for a mars bar. It never happened. Now, the point of this entry is to recognize other traditions. The graveyards are given over to shrines and many many marigolds on Nov.1-2. People put up shrines to their dead relatives in their homes with candles, food offerings and pictures. Our friends Ali and Bill have such a shrine, known as an ofrenda on their front porch. Favorite foods of their parents are put out next to pictures. Ali's father liked Mother's frosted oatmeal cookies and chocolate while Bill's Uncle Terry liked his Glenlivet single malt scotch. Both were accommodated. Also recognized were beloved family pets. We were invited to add our own special folks as well. Melisse's father had his glass of zinfandel (he also would have appreciated the Glenlivet). Beloved dog Dylie was included as well. Candles and luminaria were lit and Ali's ofrenda was magnificent. We then sat down to a delicious dinner which included many many toasts to the dead to the benefit of the living.

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Comments

[jaime, diego]

ofrendas
Hola, gracias por la dia de los muertos info.... Hope you are muy bien.... Wolf is going on a bereavement retreat this weekend w/ Annie's Hope.....he is really struggling in school right now...... so......adios! Jaime

[Jill]

Miss you guys!
Thanks so much for the blog updates and the pictures. We'll have to set up a little offrenda at your house next year for all of our beloved family and pets! All is well in St. Louiee!