Celebrating the lives of the ones we love and miss.
Of course those of you that know me best know that I truly believe that all of our loved ones are around us all of the time. When I need help with math, I ask for Granddaddy Shane's help. When I am looking for the perfect earrings or trinket to wear I ask for my Grandmother Viola's help, Hiking and outdoors activities (or when I am trying to remember a bad word in Spanish) my Granddaddy Mark, extra special prayers I ask for my Grandmother Marie's assistance in getting the word to the Big Guy. I especially like the company of our sweetest friend Gordon while I'm in the kitchen cooking for my family and when things are loud and crazy with my girlfriends I know Robin is right by my side! Unfortunately, there are many more and we deeply love them all. That is part of life. Enjoy each day we have with the living and celebrate the lives of those that have passed.
I hope this day reminds us all to remember the beautiful souls we have each been blessed with to share our lives.
The following is just a brief history of the tradition of Day of the Dead:
Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it is a national holiday, and all banks are closed. The celebration takes place on November 1 and 2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world: In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures. (source: Wikipedia)
