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The Rite of the Day of the Dead
November 2006.
The cult of the dead is as old as man himself, and it is precisely this characteristic feature which makes him different from the rest of the animals.
Since the central Paleolithic period in Asia and Europe, our ancestors have buried the members of a family together or have placed food, crockery, tools and even animal bones as a symbol of protection for the deceased.
Some of the feelings that death awakes in us are fear, respect, reverence, sadness, and solitude. In order to repair or rectify this feeling of desolation and insignificance religions have created a series of explanations and justifications in regards to the last act of our life: to die.
In Mexico the cult of death is a syncretism between the indigenous world and the European world. It is not exclusive of ancient Mexico, but a mixture and assimilation of catholic and indigenous beliefs which are carried out in places like Janitzio, Ihuatzio, Tzurumutaro, Tzintzuntzan and Jaracuaro among others.
 A lot of people meet on the 1st and 2nd of November at the graveyards of varios places in our country to offer fervor, tradition, commemoration and affection to those who are already gone, for those who have gone ahead.
In addition to visiting cemeteries, people put up altars in their homes.
The Night of the Dead has a special relevance in Michoacan because the custom of offering and holding a wake is deeply rooted in many of the villages along the shores of the Patzcuaro Lake. The common denominator during these days is the offerings for the dead so that they may refresh themselves, eat and see that their relatives still remember them.
It is important to indicate and remind all those that wish to witness these live traditions at close range to be respectful. People elaborate their offerings in order to hold wake of their dead out of tradition, for tourists it is a quick look into the past; a past that could be lost or transformed, therefore it should be appreciated in all its dimension. |
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