Día de los Muertos - Day of the Dead: In three parts.

  PART ONE  

Photographs of an Offerenda (altar) I created when Michael's Museum was still in our home. Most of these artifacts are now part of Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier since May 2011.

  PART TWO  

The following is a description of Day of the Dead and what it symbolizes. 

DAY OF THE DEAD / DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

By Michael Horvich

Day of the Dead in Mexico represents a mixture of Christian devotion and Pre-Hispanic traditions and beliefs. During the pre-Hispanic era, death did not exist. Death was seen, instead, as simply a transition, a voyage through time and space towards true life.

The celebrations take place on two days. The souls of the dead children arrive on October 31st. As they depart on November 1st, their place is taken by the souls of the adults.

On these days, the deceased are believed to receive divine permission to visit friends and relatives on earth and to share the pleasure of living once again.

While the deceased are represented in skeletal form, the celebrations are not macabre, but rather portrayed with love, humor, and affections by both artists and participants.

On both days, the living and the dead are reunited at grave sites and home alters that are adorned with flowers, candles, sugar skulls (Calaveras,) skeleton figures, and the favorite food and drink of the departed.

The altar includes four main elements of nature. 

1) Earth is represented by food and it is believed that the souls are fed by the aroma of food. 

2) Wind is represented by a moving object, usually tissue paper flags (Papel Picado.) 

3) Water is represented by a glass of water for the souls to quench their thirst after the long journey to the alter. 

4) Finally, fire is represented by wax candles, one for each soul remembered and an extra one for the forgotten soul.

The dead are never forgotten because once a year they take their places beside the living to enjoy their love and the fruits and flowers of the earth.

Edited from:

-Mary J. Andrade, http://www.dayofthedead.com

-Jeffry Weiss, Arte Popular Miniaturas, Puerto  

 Villarta, Mexico

  PART THREE  

As I post this and revisit my long time affection for Día de los Muertos, I became aware of not having included Gregory in this years celebrations. Curious? So I thought about it for a while and this is what I came up with.

Gregory is still so alive to me in everything I do and in my conversations with him, that the idea of his returning to visit doesn't make sense. In many ways he hasn't left.

I celebrate Gregory in many ways and often. On Saturday last I bought him a handful of TubeRose flowers at the farmer's market. They were (are) his favorite and we would always buy them.

Besides his favorite dark chocolates, I added a few Trick or Treat items to his alter, offerenda, shelf, shrine ... on the bookcase in the bedroom where his remains live.

Perhaps as time passes and he is less available to my memory and thoughts, as I am able to grieve less; Día de los Muertos will signal a "return" to mind of Gregory and my Day of the Dead celebrations will allow for more of a "return" than the current "continuation."

Finally, since today is November 1, and the day on which the souls of the adults arrive as those of the children leave,  maybe my wanting to post this blog entry is Gregory's way of poking me and saying, 

"Hey what about me! Celebrate, grieve less, live even more than you already do! With vigor, joy, and big ideas. With love, friends, family, and pets! With fond memories and less sorrow. Live live live!"

And so be it!