Brown in the Big Sky: Bringing Hispanic Culture to MT: Dia de los Muertos

I like to print black and white pictures like these and color them in to use for decorations:

As you might know, yesterday, Nov 2nd was Dia de los Muertos or "Day of the Dead". This is a hugely important holiday in Mexican culture, and merits a much longer essay than I have the time to provide. However, I will give a brief description of the holiday as I understand it and how I myself practice it (with lots of pictures of course).

Dia de los Muertos is thought to come largely from indigenous cultures and traditions, as one of the many traditions that blended with Catholicism and remained after colonization. It is a joyful holiday, a day in which our dead loved ones are thought to be among us. Cemeteries are bright, colorful, filled with flowers and life in Mexico, unlike in the US, where death is seen as a much more mournful occurrence. Most of Latin America is still very Catholic, and death is seen not as the end of life, but as the next chapter, a transition to be celebrated. Dia de los Muertos is a time of coming together of family, dead or alive, and highly respectful of those no longer with us.

Often, altars to dead relatives are set up in the weeks leading up to Nov 2nd, which hold many offers and tributes to them, such as their photos along with food, wine, candles, flowers, etc. These altars are very beautiful and filled with color and are meant to show respect to the deceased. Often, people decorate sugarskulls and display them on the altar or in their home as well.

On the actual day, many people paint their face and many celebrations with food and family are held. Many communities have parades and festivals, especially in Mexico and the US south-west. Even here in Missoula, many organizations put together an annual parade that marches through down town and attempts to represent some of the tradition.

I did not make an altar this year, as I did not think it would be safe from my cat. However, as I do every year, I painted half my face in the Dia de los Muertos style and wore in a Mexican-inspired dress with bright embroidered flowers. I went through my day at the university like this, to honor my Tio and Grandpa and to bring awareness to the day. Once at home, I made pan dulce and Mexican hot chocolate for the first time, which I set out on two extra plates and cups so that they might eat dinner with us. It truly is a beautiful holiday, and a wonderful feeling to think we might be able to feel close to our family members after they've left us.

My homemade pan dulce: