I’ve enjoyed hearing about the experiences of all the Broadstreeters who traveled to our southern border last June. They have inspired me to learn a little more about Mexican traditions, like the Dia de los Muertos. Honestly, I’ve never been a Day of the Dead fan, but as with so many things, the more I learn about the tradition, the more I can appreciate it.
At Broad Street we will recognize All Saints Day on Friday, Nov. 1st as a special time to remember and honor our ancestors and spiritual mentors. It’s preceded by All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween, on Thursday, Oct. 31st and followed by All Souls Day on Nov. 2nd, another day of prayer for those who have died before us. The traditional Mexican Day of the Dead is also celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd. Apparently, the end of the growing season and the thought of winter can bring many of us to that thin place of remembering loved ones we’ve lost.
Most Mexican families create an offrenda, or offering (like a home altar) to remember dear ones. They decorate with photographs and marigolds, candles and beautiful papel picado — colorful tissue paper that has been carefully cut. The strong smell of marigolds is believed to help guide souls or spirits in search of their eternal rest. Those spirits are represented by breezes that blow and make the yellow, orange and purple decorations flutter. Those three colors represent mourning and God’s glory, but you will also see red, black and green papel picado hanging outside homes. Because candles are believed to aid spiritual navigation, they are frequently displayed in the shape of a cross. Unlike the scary skulls we see at Halloween, skulls associated with the Dia de los Muertos are made of sugar and painted with bright colors to help young people celebrate the lives of those we remember.
This shortened prayer for All Saints Day was borrowed from the Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church:
Thank you, God, for the lives of those who have gone before us.
Bless the memories of your saints, God.
May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love.
The Columbus Art Museum is honoring this holiday all weekend, a great way to learn about this rich cultural tradition here in Columbus. – https://www.columbusmuseum.org/calendar-and-events/celebrate-dia-de-los-muertos-2/
BY Rosemary Tolliver
