Part 1 of 4
What is Day of the Dead?
First of All, Frances Ann Day summarizes the three-day celebration, the Day of the Dead:
“ On October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The three-day fiesta filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead; muertos (the bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and decorations. ”
— Frances Ann Day, Latina and Latino Voices in Literature[13]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
This Mexican holiday has been observed for 2,500-3,000 years because the ancestors, those of all ages who have gone beyond, are honored. Beginning October 31, Halloween in the United States and concluding on November 2, this is an opportunity for you to shift from Mindful Grieving to celebrating not only your Beloved Departed family and friends, but also your Beloved Departed pets. Because those four legged creatures loved you unconditionally, you may long for their presence as much as two legged loved one.
But WHY? you may ask.
I live in the United States.
Also I am not Hispanic.
Furthermore I have never heard of Day of the Dead before reading this blog.
Nor have I seen any thing like this:
Because this three-day party gives you permission to:
Say the name of your Beloved Departed certainly even more that you regularly do
Bring out their pictures and talk about what is happening in the photo because you won’t be judged as “hanging on”
Hold or wear their clothes which maybe seems weird at other times of the year
Display and enJOY their most favorite foods, drinks, colors, flowers and most note-worthy objects of your departed.
With NO Apology To Those Who Think
You Should Be DONE With Your Grief and Mourning!
These three days are intended for you to remember, rejoice and revere your Beloved Departed.
Those who have died and as a result left a hole in your heart. Those who’s death shattered you and maybe your entire life.
These three days you have permission to get up out of bed, decorate and celebrate.
To find out where you are in your unique grief process go to: click here and take the Free Grief Assessment.
Is it time to move from shattered to explore it’s expansiveness? Is it time to move from the pain of loss toward to peace of love?
Updated 10/26/17
