What do a pocket watch, a bottle of Licor 43, a glass-blown flower, a journal, and a ring holder from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition have in common? Sure, they might just be five items that you could find, strolling around an open air flea market like El Rastro in Madrid. However, they also happen to be among five items that stand out as some of my absolute favorite things:
The pocket watch represents my favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, just one of many items that a young Jem and Scout found in a knot-holed tree – gifts from none other than Boo Radley
The bottle of Licor 43 represents my unofficial “coming of age” in Spain, where I attended my first discotecas, first fell in love with Latin music, and first began discovering both who I was, and who I wanted to become
The glass-blown flower represents my wedding day, where more than 60 of these stood in vases as centerpieces and take-home gifts for guests (and not one of them broke!)
The journal represents my passion for writing, which I’ve been doing ever since I could pick up a pencil. In my possession, I have more than a dozen diaries, which date back to when I was in 4th grade, talking about everything from my first crush and cheerleading formations to traveling the world and becoming a mom
The ring holder from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, that my husband purchased for me at the Field Museum in Chicago, represents my inexplicable connection with this event…I can only surmise that I must have attended this fair in a past life
So, why exactly are these things on my mind? Well, if you’re as immersed in the Hispanic culture as I am, work in marketing to Latinos, or even if you have a friend or two that happens to be of Mexican descent, I’m guessing you’re familiar with Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. While this time-honored tradition has roots in the 16th century and owes its origins to a hybrid of pre-Hispanic Aztec philosophy and medieval European rituals, the holiday is increasingly catching on in the United States, with more and more Day of the Dead altars and displays being featured in cultural museums and store merchandising alike.
The reason behind the popularity? Surprisingly enough, I’ve found that the University of North Carolina’s own LEARN NC program puts it best: “Perhaps because in contrast to Halloween which is filled with demons, witches and images of terror, the Day of the Dead is distinctively different. It demonstrates a strong sense of love and respect for one’s ancestors, celebrates the continuance of life, family relationships, community solidarity, allows people to talk about, and even finds humor in death. In this way Death loses some of its terror” ¹
… which is the inspiration behind today’s enlightening, and hopefully not too morbid, post.
Día de los Muertos Celebrations in Mexico and Latin America
Day of the Dead festivities are honored in many Latin American countries, however, the tradition is celebrated most widely in Mexico – – central and southern Mexico to be more specific, with some of the best known celebrations taking place in the state of Oaxaca, in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, and in the town of Mixquic, near Mexico City. While it may have a public aspect, at a community level, this joyous and sacred time is a private or family feast, organized as a way to welcome the souls of deceased loved ones. ²
According to tradition, it is believed that the gates of heaven are open at midnight on October 31st, and the spirits of all deceased children, or angelitos, are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. Then, on November 2nd, the spirits of adults come down to enjoy festivities that are prepared for them². There is nothing somber or haunting about these events – the dead come from another world as spirits to be with their living relatives, not as eerie ghosts.
Photo Credit: Glendale Community College
Photo Credit: Eneas de Troya
Photo Credit: International Business TimesIn anticipation for the arrival of the spirits, families often build ofrendas, or altars, for the dead inside their homes, which showcase the special or important things their loved one has left behind in remembrance. Depending on the village’s regional traditions and family income, what is on the altar can vary; however in its roots it is an indigenous tradition, with some saying it has Catholic elements.
What are some key items found on traditional ofrendas?
Papel Picado
Pan de Muerto, a special sweet “Day of the Dead” bread made in the shape of human figures to represent the soul
Mini toys, sugar skulls and skeleton figures dressed up as everyday people such as artists, lawyers and secretaries
Photographs of the deceased
Candles and Incense
Flowers such as marigolds, baby’s breath, white amaryllis, wild purple orchids and cempasúchil, which are meant to light the pathway of the
deceased soul as they return home to rejoin the family on November 2nd
The deceased’s favorite foods laid out, such as brown and red moles, tamales, tacos, beans, tortillas and salsa
On the afternoon of November 2nd, festivities are taken to the cemetery, where families gather at their local graveyards all night to decorate with candles, food and flowers and visit with the souls. Generally, women keep the vigil going, chatting amongst themselves with sleeping babies in hand, while children play and men visit. Reminiscing about loved ones, playing cards, cleaning tombs and listening to music are all common activities. Parades and other activities often take place a short distance from the cemetery.
Preposterous Preparations
While some celebrations stay true to tradition, let’s be honest, everyone has their own way of coping with the idea of death…whether it’s their own passing someday, or the death of someone they know and love. I recently heard comedian Daniel Tosh explain in detail, his wish to have his will hidden, treasure map style. He goes on – though I must add, if you’re not familiar with Tosh’s raunchy, crude sense of humor, or are easily grossed out, feel free to skip to the next paragraph – “I’m going to be cremated from the neck down. And at my funeral, when people are talking about me, they have to hold my head. And then at the end, they have to kick me into the audience and the audience has to keep me up for at least three hits or you have to start the whole service over”. ³
Oh Tosh, you never cease to surprise us.
Then there’s Perfect Choice, a funeral planning company that is designing the “Coffin of the Future,” a casket that includes what “seems to be a large iPhone screen on top” that displays photo slideshows, digital messages of condolences, color-changing lights and built-in loud speakers to project a eulogy or even stream your Spotify playlist. While still only a concept, this ‘SMART COFFIN’ is a sign of the times, “allowing funeral attendees the convenience of viewing condolences as they are tweeted and Facebooked to the deceased.” ⁴
Photo Credit: Mental Floss
Photo Credit: Mental FlossMy Personal Tributes
For me, I find that I’m continually evolving in my ways of honoring the dead – some that have found me, and others that I’ve sought out. Allow me to explain:
For the past 10 years, every time someone passes away, who
either I or my husband have personally met, we make it a point to eat at an Egg Harbor Café restaurant. The tradition started on accident, when we were there, talking about my husband Guillermo’s aunt, who had recently passed away in Mexico.
About a year later, we found ourselves eating at the same restaurant,
talking about a dear friend of mine from my days at Univision Radio San Diego, who had recently died. Now, we’ve reached the point where visiting an Egg Harbor Café restaurant has become therapeutic for us – reserved only for this occasion – and now along with our children, we are able to talk about our cherished times with the person or people we are dedicating the meal to.
* I must point out, that we now only go there AFTER someone has passed away, as one time we went ‘for fun’ with another couple, and days later I found out that an acquaintance from my high school class had just died. Yes, it’s merely a coincidence, but still, why take any chances!
Just over a month ago, our marketing agency was tasked with
creating a Halloween/Day of the Dead event at the Jewel-Osco on Pulaski Road in Chicago, which is the grocer’s highest-indexing Hispanic location. Given that we didn’t have a lot of time to plan, or a very large budget, plus the fact that these celebrations are largely centered around food, we took a party-planning approach with tastings of popular items such as Doña María mole with rotisserie chicken, Café Bustelo coffee with Tres Leches cake, hot chocolate served alongside authentic pan dulce, and guacamole served with Tabasco sauce and tortilla chips. Many of these foods can double for items served at a Halloween party/Day of the Dead celebration for a deceased loved one, or actual items when creating an ofrenda. While we added a touch of papel picado, marigolds and calavera (skull) décor to our welcome table, our goal was simply to remind shoppers of the holiday and ways
they can celebrate, while remaining genuine and respectful towards each
shopper’s customs. This was our first year honoring the tradition, and we look forward to expanding on the celebration in years to come!
A few years ago, I downloaded the “Day of the Dead Me” app, which allows you to edit a photo of yourself so you come out looking like “La Calavera Catrina,” the traditional folk-art skeleton that has become a cultural icon for Day of the Dead celebrations – – complete with flowers in your hair, a top hat and other accessories to boot. In this photo, taken in 2012 with my son Elijah, I’m holding an actual sugar skull that I purchased at a museum on 19th St in Chicago…which brings me to my next tribute…
There is an annual Day of the Dead celebration in Chicago, held at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. Now in its 29th year and supported by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Chicago Park District, Univision Communications and others, this year’s event on November 1st featured everything from face painting and art activities, to giant dancing Mojiganga puppets and musical performances by Grammy and Latin Grammy Award nominated Sones de Mexico Ensemble. Art aficionados of all ages were even encouraged to create their own ofrendas, which were put on magnificent display during this event. Walking through the “La Muerte Niña: Day of the Dead” exhibition, you’ll most likely experience every emotion from deep sadness, to a touch of humor, to confusion and intrigue, at all of the ways that people have chosen to express their love for those who are no longer with us. Running until December 13, 2015, it is a must-see event for those in the area, and the street vendors nearby selling warm atole de arroz con chocolate and snacks like chicharrón, only make for a more authentic experience.
How do you celebrate death…and life?
So now that you’ve seen how some parts of the world, and yours truly, honor the deceased and the revered Day of the Dead celebrations, I challenge you to take a minute, an hour, or however much time you feel is right, and think about some of the things that are most important to you, and the ways that you would want to be celebrated after you pass.
For one, given my long trajectory of event planning and shopper giveaways, I am most certain that I want a raffle to take place during my wake, where select friends and family will walk away with prized possessions owned by yours truly. This idea has been received with many giggles once I share it, however I’m sticking to it 🙂 And like many others have planned for themselves, I can’t help but think how magical it would be to have my ashes spread across different parts of the world where I have felt an amazing connection…Jackson Square in New Orleans, the Wrigley Building in Chicago, the Oso y Madroño statue in Madrid, outside the Le Petit Poucet Café in Paris, outside the Cathedral in Guadalajara, amongst many others.
As for items on my ofrenda – real or hypothetical – in addition to the five items listed at the beginning of this post, I’d also love to see the pair of shoes that I used when I ran the Chicago Marathon, a microphone to symbolize my love of Spanish karaoke, and a leg of Prosciutto di Parma for good measure. I know many more items would be added, due to my experiences in the years to come, but please – I’m asking my funeral coordinators now – let there be Pitbull playing in the background during my services.
¡Dale!
-Tracy Galindo, President
1:
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/chngmexico/210
2: http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html
3: http://www.jokes4us.com/peoplejokes/comedianjokes/danieltoshjokes.html
4: http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/caskets-stream-social-media/
