It seems it’s become super popular – Day of the Dead. Perhaps people who love Halloween or Fall, are like me, they want to keep the Season of Joy going.
We can say that Day of the Dead is an amalgam, a mashup, or a remix.
Ancient practices of the indigenous people from the area of Oaxaca + Spanish Conquistadors + Roman Catholicism (and all its rituals, candles, and incense) + the Mexican Diaspora +Pumpkin Spice Latte = Dia de los Muertos.
Or at least that is what it seems when I see the glut of people with their faces painted like skulls.
And just like any good remix, the best elements of the originals are combined with current cultural tastes.
Lots of people get mad at this – the term thrown around is appropriation.
I don’t mind. I think it’s the way a culture, society, and people evolve. I understand that the cultures of origin have suffered when they celebrated or expressed their sacred traditions.
But perhaps we can consider, is it better for the world if more of us learn about, thus respect, the customs of our global neighbors?
Certainly, some will and some won’t. There will be many mistakes along the way as we come to understanding. The hope is that we can come to understanding, one small step at a time.
So I’ve been thinking about Dia de los Muertos and what it means as a white, Mexican woman.
The parts of Mexico from which I hail (Sonora and Nuevo Leon), do not originally celebrate this custom. I’ve spent the majority of my life in the United States makes me want to celebrate even more.
My mother just told me a story of when we first moved here. We were in a store and she spoke to me in Spanish. A fellow shopper scolded my mother for doing so.
I forgot my Spanish for many years, and have had to relearn it. When my daughters were born I was determined to teach them Spanish. For many years I did, until they started spending more time away from the home and with English speakers. They have forgotten it, though the seeds are there, perhaps waiting to regerminate.
And so, with people angry about appropriation, am I allowed to celebrate this event that honors the power of family?
The point is to bring comfort in dark days. And as the light diminishes and the darkness increases, isn’t this the most important thing?
We’ve all been through some dark days, lately. Some of us more than others. Who has the heart to deny joy where there has been so much grief?
So light the candles, set the flowers, cut the papel picado. Find the photos of your precious ones who have ascended. Maybe serve a little shot of mezcal o tequila. O una cerveza o atole. Lo que te agrada. And tell a story or two.
Bow your head in honor and humility, for your people and the impact they made on you, for the cycles of life, for cold, dark days, and for knowing that there is always light.