Day of the Dead

This past weekend, I watched Disney Pixar’s Coco for the first time. If you haven’t seen the film, it’s about a boy with a deep love for music who unintentionally visits the Land of the Dead and tries to make his way back. The movie themes were close to my heart -- a celebration of life, the value of family, a passion for music and the ceremonies we have around death. It was also a good reminder of how people can hang onto things forever, for better or worse.

On November 1 and 2, Mexico (and elsewhere) observes the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), where families and friends gather to remember and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. Stories are shared and laughter is central to the events, lest the dead be insulted by sorrow. 

As with many other ceremonies related to death, music, food, beverages and flowers are involved. Families honour those who passed with altars of photos and memorabilia of the departed. And prayers are said in the hopes of a visit by departed souls. People often visit cemeteries as part of their plans, to tidy and adorn. Night vigils are common. 

I recently shared an article about Cultural Appropriation: How Not to Celebrate the Day of the Dead, which discusses how we can incorporate the ritual into our lives appropriately and with respect. Essentially, these rituals are as sacred to those celebrating as our own rituals around death are to us. We take the passing of our loved ones personally, seriously and with deep connection to spirituality and culture. 

It has been fascinating to me how local families, although not able to take part in traditional funeral culture these past 18 months, are finding ways to create and combine ancestral culture with new Canadian practices.