The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a pagan holiday that takes place on November 1-2. It is a time to supposedly remember those who have passed away, and celebrate in a way that they would like. It is expected for the family to go to the gravesite of the deceased to clean and decorate it. Although this holiday is dedicated to the dead, the original festival was dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl (also known as ‘The Lady of the Dead’), but in English she is called Catrina. Its roots can be traced back to the indigenous peoples such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Mexican, Maya, P'urhépecha, and Totonac.
We went to the cemetery on the Nov. 2nd to see what really happened and were pretty surprised. As we entered we saw a constant stream of people carrying their beer bottles in and out of the packed graveyard. We saw bands playing rousing songs, families milling around laughing and joking, and a cup of alcohol in almost every hand. Some were lighting candles for the deceased, talked to the dead, and others were praying for relatives and their release from purgatory. People will pay priest or other religious people to pray a special prayer for their relative so that their entrance into heaven will be quicker. The majority are hoping and trusting in something that cannot save a soul nor help in their release from a place that does not exist. What a comfort we as believers have that Christ is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-4), and that when we die we will see our Savior (Luke 23:39-43).
1 comment:
It is so sad to not have the assurance of where our loved ones are and where we will be.
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