DEATH
How would you feel when you think of death?
I have friends whom I had asked the same question and they had mixed answers and emotions while thinking about death. In fact some may even think what or where they will be after this so called death. It is true that there's tension just by thinking about it and I definitely understand that it is indeed a very serious matter as we are talking about our eternity.
Is eternity true? Is there really LIFE after death?
But today we are not going to talk about what's there after death but we will talk about the dead instead. Since Halloween is just around the corner, I would like to share some stories which I had learned to know because of my favorite animated movie, The Book of Life. I had shared about the story before and the love story which occurred in this movie too but today, I will share about the specific event which was being highlighted on this movie. But actually, this wasn't my first time to get into this event. In fact I have heard of it while watching an episode of one of the Youtube channels that I had been following before, the RealityChangers. I had shared their story to before but I guess I have not shared that they are from Mexico which is the exact same region which is celebrating this holiday.
DAY of the DEAD
A day intended for the deceased members of the family. The event gathers family members and friends to pray for and remember those who had already died. The prayers are said to help and support their deceased family members with their spiritual journey.
image credit to Michal Huniewicz, further editing done by me
Dias de los Muertos is how the Mexicans refer the said holiday, it is a Mexican phrase of the exact translation, Day of the Dead and is a literal term that this day is for those who are six feet under. The event originated in Mexico which is a blend of pre-Hispanic indigenous beliefs and Spanish Catholic beliefs. This is also the reason why the said event is being observed in the Philippines itself since the country has been colonized by the Spaniards for 300 long years.
The celebration starts on October 31, November 1 and then on the second of November. Although it has been introduced because of culture, there are countries and regions in the world that had also similar events being observed. Which we will talk about later on.
But thinking about it, this event is not just celebrated in Mexico, each country I believe also have the same similar kind of celebration but of different term perhaps.
In our country the Philippines, we celebrate two holidays by November first and second which are All Souls Day and All Saints Day. This is really similar to the Day of the Dead and that it just states that there are indeed similarities to every culture and celebrated holidays.
Activities During Day of the Dead
Since the Day of the Dead is a popular event which has taken hold in the entire world, it has become one of the most important holidays and so during this festive, joyous time of celebration and commemoration, a lot of time and money is being invested into celebrating this holiday.
These activities are being performed before, during and after the Day of the Dead event. These activities listed are not only for one culture but I am showing the common ones.
••• Cleaning and Decorating Graves/Altars
image credits to Pinterest, screengrab from the movie, The Book of Life
Before the start of the event, the first thing that the living ones do is to clean up the graves of their beloved deceased ones. The celebration is an annual thing so the entire year, some of the families don't really check the graves and so weeds and other kinds of dirt has already contaminated the grave. Most graves' paint colors had also been dilapidated so there is a need to paint it again with either the same color or of a different color.
Other decorations are also being done to beautify the graves like adding flowers, placing frames and candles at the same time getting ready for the main celebration. Usually, these things will be done two or three days before the start of the commemoration.
While most are doing these things at the grave or cemetery, there are also families who prefer to celebrate it in their houses. This is due to the fact that their deceased ones have been buried or the bodies' dust are just stored near the house. So these families would just create altars with flowers and pictures of their loved ones and will hold unto prayers for their loved ones.
••• Prayers, praying, pray.
Mexican family members light candles and pray at the cemetery to honor their deceased relatives during the Day of the Dead, credits to Jan Sochor Photography
One most important activity that is being observed during this holiday is the giving of prayers. The event was not created initially just for celebrating and eating and merry making but in the first place, it was created for the commemoration of the deceased loved ones and of course praying for their souls and their spiritual journey wherever they are right now.
Prayers are often given during the visit of the grave, it can take from a few minutes to as long as an hour. There are also other rituals being performed but the main highlight would be the paying of prayers to the friends and family members who have gone to the other side of life.
••• Food and Offerings
image credits to blogs.lavozdegalicia.es
During the day of the event, the families would spend either at their houses or the grave. Since most of the people would stay at the grave, they would also be bringing food and other stuffs. Most of these stuffs would be those which are favorite of the deceased loved ones. There will be celebration like drinking and a bit of festive eating.
In fact in the movie The Book of Life, the story started where there was this celebration and the scene shows lots of food offered in the grave of their loved ones. It also becomes a mini reunion for most that they are able to get together and be with their families because of the said event.
••• Vigil
On both days, most families would be staying at the cemetery, staying up all night and would tell stories, memories and other things about the late deceased ones. Stories about their life with them, what were they when they were still alive, what were the person's adventures, its achievements and perhaps more funny things about this person or maybe its misfortunes too!
photo of a family on vigil by traveshot
Most importantly, the loved ones' legacy will be talked about as well. There will be laughter and sadness, maybe tears too while reminiscing these things. But it will definitely make the night unforgettable.
There's one very nice activity which the Mexicans have been used to do during this day of the Dead and that's painting their faces with skull designs. Since the most common symbol of the holiday is the skull (or calavera) and skull has a uniquely positive meaning in Dias de los Muertos. The design which celebrants display in food (sugar or chocolate shaped like skulls), masks called calacas (skeletons), and (most recently) face paint. Thus this is referred to as Sugar Skull. It has a mixture of Aztec and European symbolism infuse the meaning of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) face painting designs.
••• Sugar Skull Face Painting
La Muerte Face Painting
literally skull painted
A girl dressing up for the Day of the Dead Celebration, image credit to w-dog.net
As per an article that I had read, originally, people in Mexico wear traditional skull masks, and the tradition of painting faces to look like skulls has grown up as a variation of this practice. Masks have always been powerful objects in many cultures, ones that often allow the wearer to get in touch with their darker, chaotic side.
The sugar skull looks really festive because of the colors
Skull face painting is a chance to overcome fear of death, act recklessly, and get up to the mischief that is forbidden at other times of the year!
I would love to also make skull paintings on my face too but I never had a chance to do so. I rarely join Halloween activities and I guess I am too grown up to dress up or something but perhaps the face painting is a much better way to think and imagine what it is to be dead here on earth.
Thinking of that again, I wonder if we can see each other and recognize our faces when we are already gone but spirit. Do our spirits have faces? Are we going to recognize our loved ones? What about those who had married twice after their first husband/wife died? It is really intriguing and no one can actually tell us what's next as no one had come back alive except Jesus.
Anyway, I will end my blog with this question:
ARE YOU READY TO DIE?
Regards,
