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| Altar de Recuerdos - Days to Remember |
Todavía me acuerdo de la cara que puso cuando traté de explicarle la tradición del Día de Muertos. Para mí es lo más natural del mundo hablar de altares, flores, calaveritas, comida y pan de muerto, porque en México desde niños aprendemos a ver estas fechas como una ocasión especial para recordar a los que, como dicen por ahí, se nos adelantaron.
El Día de Muertos tiene su origen en creencias religiosas presentes en México antes de la conquista. Su raíz es por lo tanto espiritual, con rituales que varían según la región, pero que comparten un mismo significado. Es además una tradición reconocida como Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad (UNESCO, 2008).
Cada familia encuentra su manera de recordar. Algunos pondrán un altar en un lugar especial de la casa, lo cuál no tiene nada de asustador porque al final del día todos, mexicanos o no, guardamos por ahí algo en memoria de quien ya no está. La diferencia es que además de las fotos también adornaremos con flores, velas y algún detallito en honor de la persona, como un tequila o un plato de su comida favorita por ejemplo.
Los niños a lo mejor preguntarán quienes son esos de los retratos, familiares que quizás no conocieron personalmente y los adultos les contarán que aquella es la tía fulanita y que ese otro es el bisabuelo. Y así se irán hilando las historias, y el niño comprenderá que esas vidas también son parte de su vida.
Cuando mi abuelo Hernán falleció entendí lo que es perder a un ser querido. Ese año ocupó un lugar en el altar y comprendí que su presencia se mantendría viva, como los recuerdos que hasta hoy tengo de él.
Y sí, la gente aprovechará también para visitar los cementerios, arreglar las tumbas, a lo mejor echarse un traguito o cantar una canción.
Y cocinarán platillos especiales, comerán Pan de Muerto e intercambiarán bromas, cuentos e historias.
Y habrá quien crea que los espíritus regresan a visitar, y habrá quién asegure que el muerto muerto está y que hay que tenerle más miedo a los vivos.
Y yo no sé cómo sea la cosa… pero creo que la mejor manera de celebrar la VIDA de quien se fue es recordarlos y llevarlos vivos en el corazón.
¡Que vivan los recuerdos!
xoxo
Palom@
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| Pan De Muerto + Hot Chocolate = Mmmemories! |
I still remember the look on his face the first time I explained the Day of the Dead.
The truth is, there is nothing spooky about this Mexican tradition.
The Day of the Dead is not about lost souls or scary events. It is not even as much about death as it is about celebrating the lives of those who have passed away.
Growing up in Mexico I came to see the Day of the Dead as a time of remembrance. As a child I understood that the last days of October and the first days of November were a special occasion that gave our family the chance to gather, to share a prayer and a meal, and to think about those who were no longer with us.
The history behind this tradition dates back to ancient beliefs about the afterlife that were present long before the arrival of the Spaniards, and though some rituals may vary the practice has survived the passing of time, adapting through the years. In 2008 it was recognized as part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
To this day most families in Mexico commemorate it. Some will put together an altar, which is a small memorial, in a special corner of their home. Many may find the display peculiar, but don’t many of us keep mementos of our dearly departed as a way of holding on to the memories?
We just make it a bit (OK make that A LOT) more special this time of the year, when portraits are displayed on tables decorated with candles, flowers and a token of something the person enjoyed while in this world, such as a shot of tequila or a favorite dish.
In our family some have kept the altar tradition. When I was a child I would ask about those photographs as many of them were of relatives I never met, but even at that young age I understood they were part of my personal history. Their stories came alive during those days. This is your aunt, someone would say, and that one over there is your great grandfather.
Years later, when my grandfather Hernan died his passing was the first time I lost someone I actually knew. That year his picture was added to the altar. His presence was kept alive amongst us, like the memories we still have of him.
And yes some people will visit the gravesite to clean up and decorate with flowers, some will have a few tequilas and will sing their hearts out.
And they will cook a special meal, they will eat Pan de Muerto and they will make jokes and share stories.
And there will be some who truly believe that during these special days the souls of their relatives come back to visit, and there will be others who are sure that once we are gone we are gone and that we should be more afraid of the living than of the dead.
And I don't know how things work in the afterlife but I can’t think of a better way of celebrating the lives of the dearly departed than bringing together the hearts and souls of the living, and there is nothing scary about that. Long live the memories!
¡Que vivan los recuerdos!
xoxo
Palom@
