May the dead live!
This next Tuesday we celebrate Halloween and also the Day of the Dead.
Here in the United States it is already normal to see Hispanic people on the streets “trick or treating.” What would be extraordinary would be to see Anglo families bringing offerings to the cemeteries and spending the night by the grave of their loved ones. In fact, not even Hispanics can do it here, like in our home countries. First, because it’s probably illegal; second, because we are still sending our dead to their homeland, as surely it was their last will; and third because it would definitely not be the same.
The Day of the Dead celebration for Hispanics is something cultural, something we bring in our blood. Making at home the offerings (small altars), with objects that belonged to the deceased and putting photographs, as well as the dishes that he/she liked to eat, is a curious but very effective way of remembering them.
Another curious tradition is to make “calaveritas”, little poems in which rhymes are written relating death to a living relative or friend. This is far from being offensive, it’s fun, both for the writer and for the recipient. Within Hispanic culture, telling someone that death is looking for him or that he is going to be taken by the death is not offensive; just like calling someone fat, black or chubby, those are the affectionate nicknames with which we usually call them.
And to end the celebration we eat the delicious “bread of the dead” accompanied by hot chocolate with ‘pambazos’ or ‘gorditas’ and we have fun watching who finds the doll hidden in the bread, so that he/she will be set up to make tamales on February 2 (Day of La Candelaria).
The Hispanic traditions have a religious part, a cultural part and a lot of fun and family coexistence. Even if it seems incongruous: Long Live the Day of the Dead!
