Imagine having dinner at midnight by a tomb surrounded
by spirits of loved ones who have passed away? This may sound frightening
but, believe it or not, some people have a strong respect for those
who are no longer with them. As a child, my grandma used to tell
me: “Don’t be afraid of the dead, be afraid of those
who are living.” After my father passed away I taught that
only his body was gone but his spirit was still with us. Years passed
by and I learned to appreciate the mystery of those things that
we cannot see but feel. When I understood that there is a supernatural
aspect to life and death, I was able to feel my father’s spirit.
In Mexico we celebrate “El Día de los
Muertos” or “The Day of the Dead” every November
2, and it is believed that the deceased return for that one day
to visit with their loved ones. This celebration is part of the
Mexican culture and almost everyone honors the departed relatives.
I honor my dad on this special day by constructing him an altar,
a sacred place where I place personal gifts for him and light candles,
or by going to his tomb to rejoice that his spirit remains alive
within me.
But how did this tradition begin? Spirituality can
be defined as something mysterious; it is intangible and exists
as a sacred element in the hearts of the people who embrace it.
I truly believe that the spirituality in Latin America has its roots
in the Native American cultures. I believe this because I am partly
indigenous myself. My grandmother taught me the beauty of nature
and the importance of respecting it. I learned from her how to nourish
my soul with those things that we cannot see or touch. By searching
the roots of my past I found out that, before the arrival of the
Spaniards, the Native American cultures were full of rich traditions
where spirituality was paramount. Even though the Europeans suppressed
many of the Indian traditions, some Indian cultures continued to
practice their traditions in the remote areas where they took refuge.
My hometown is a perfect example of this because many people there
still speak my ancestors’ language, Tarasco, as well as perform
the same ancient rituals they practiced centuries ago. One unique
trait of my culture was that death was considered a sacred, a pathway
to a better life. The Indian tribes embraced death and did not fear
its presence to the point that, even today, death is given its own
holiday—it is celebrated. Even though this holiday has been
alive for many generations, it seems to be as magical as the first
day it happened.
Día de los Muertos represents the very core
of my ancestors’ spirituality. It is a respect for natural
forces, for the spirits that cannot be seen or are no longer with
us, but can somehow be perceived on that special occasion. When
one allows oneself to believe in the things that cannot be seen,
when one allows oneself to feel the supernatural forces, when one
embraces the spirit and the presence of death then, and only then,
will the individual experience the manifestation of death. With
this in mind, having dinner at midnight surrounded by spirits is
not as creepy as it sounds. It is actually a magical experience
that transcends reality.
-Cecilia Iñiguez
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