DAY OF THE DEAD

When someone dear to you leaves this world, there is the pain of his loss, but there is also the memory; of their stories, their way of speaking, what they liked to eat, to drink, what we shared together, what they taught us, their legacy.

As a Mexican, it is a tradition that I wait every year, since I was a girl at school we always organized an altar contest, so we were responsible for taking something to build it together, that's why I see as a celebration those who are no longer with me and I learned that outside of religious beliefs, this special day could come to visit us and be together again.

Although in each state of the country the same tradition is celebrated differently, we agree very much.

From the day before the preparations are seen, the flower markets begin to fill with the flower of cempasúchil, the bakeries prepare the bread of the dead, the chopped paper and the sugar skulls appear in the stationery and markets, the families begin to plan and prepare the deceased's favorite food, personal items and photos are collected, it is all preparation for the special day.

"It is said that the bright color of the cempasuchil flowers represents the path that the dead must follow, the light and warmth of the candles illuminate and accompany them through the darkness of the tomb, while the succulent aroma of the prepared dishes and placed in the offerings "nourishes", while recalling the importance of sharing food with the family.

Maybe we meet as a family to set up the altar, maybe we do it in the offices or schools, or public places, but the procedure is the same, there are those who receive that day with dances and songs, there are those who receive it with a dinner with family and friends, a meeting in which we remember those who are no longer there, those who receive it by praying, or visiting the tombs or niches of their loved ones.

Mexico is full of traditions and customs; color, party, dance and singing, traditions that sometimes difficult to understand if you're not Mexican. How to make a party to death? Some people ask me now that I do not live in Mexico, for me it is a party to remember, a party to want to pay homage, to know that in our hearts they are always present, even though we do not count on their presence.

I see many of my friends and family who do not live in Mexico arming altars in their homes and I think that gives us identity as Mexicans, as something we live and treasure, wherever we go we take what we are.

Friends and relatives shared their altars to honor their own, I share them with you.

Always in our hearts