Chicano Dia de los Muertos

[Msedano]

Mexicanos make a big deal out of Dia de los Muertos, and this tradition has a
fervent following here in Califas. I wonder what you chicanos are planning for
this day. I'm gonna attend the various Self Help Graphic art exhibitions, and
in Pasadena the Folk Tree has an impressive backroom gallery exhibition of
altars and a great collection of artesania for sale.

I went to my compadres' Dia noche last year, inviting a mexicana friend, and
she was a little pissed off because la comadre had so altered the mexican way
that our invitada described it as "all wrong." Now, the mexicano guests
painted their faces white or red and we all got into birongas and comida, then
there was a bit of speechmaking, poem reading, narrative, and this latter
seems to have ticked off my friend the most.

So what's right?
--
Mse...@aol.com
c/s

[Razano]

Linda and I have sponsored over 6 Dia de Los Muertos exhibit. In 1992, we
helped pull off a City wide Muertos exhibit at the local Saxon Art Museum. We
have also experienced Dia exhibits in Minneapolis and Chicago. I do not know
about the West Coast, but in the Midwest, Dia de Los Muertos arrangements,
whether they are personal ofrendas, art gallery exhibits, or general events,
the one criteria that all follow is one of respect de los antipasados. The
manner in which the artist goes about expressing this respect is left to
artistic expression, and yes, some license. I am sorry, but in the Midwest,
it is not possible to gather at gravesites ( I had to chase away several
homies that were messing with me while I visited my Mother's grave), or be
able to afford elaborate merrigold displays, authentic pan de muerto, or
elaborate ceremonial processions. In fact, there has been times that as we
have gone about promoting Dia de los Muertos activities, there has been those
aggressively accusing us of promoting Satanism. This attitude does nothing to
dampen our observances. It is important to understand that unlike the Saxon
cult of death during Halloween, our's is not one that revels in terror, evil,
darkness. No, the calaveras as drawn by Posada, Rivera, are one's that
participate in life's excesses. They are primarily involved in telling
character and moral stories.

There is one thing to be carefull about. If your ofrenda is meant to welcome
your ancestors to partake the essence of a favorite meal, or in the case with
babies, play with a favorite toy, light the candle. Otherwise, if your
display is for esthetic pleasure, exhibited as an example in a museum/for hire
environment, be careful about inviting the spirts, do not light the candle.

To the muchachita who was upset. She must have been frustrated at her own
attempts to communicate with her ancestors. Even in Mexico, Dia de los
Muertos has been affected by Mestizoism and urbal living. There are very few
places in Mexico that continue to observe November the 2nd in a
semi-traditional manner.
Actually, TODOS SANTOS, is a very involved series of rites and tradition, far
to complicated for pedestrians.

[Starseed47]

What is the *history* of the celebration of Dia de los Muertos?
Meaning ~ where did it originate? Was there also a celebration
<holy-day> around the time of winter solstice ~ as the Christians
created Christmas?

Thanks,
Ruth

[Starseed47]

Another article ~ and a web site that has all kinds of information:
http://www.hisp.com/links/muertos.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Families Celebrate The Day of the Dead
By Dr. Roberto Vargas

As they enter the living room, Joel and Maria are greeted and hugged by
family and friends they have not seen in months. Little Susana then grabs
the hand of her godmother and pulls her toward the altar. "Look, Nina, it's
so pretty!" she exclaims. "And look at the picture of Mama Lupe. She was
so young. I'm glad we're remembering her tonight."

Every year, more and more Latino families celebrate El Di'a de los Muertos,
or the Day of the Dead. A family altar is assembled, with photos of loved
ones, candles, mementos, skeleton toys, and flowers. Then, one evening
during the
last week of October or early November, family and friends are invited for a
gathering to share memories of the dead, express thanks for life, and enjoy
food and laughter.

The Day of the Dead, November 2, is a time to remember loved ones who
have died by inviting their spirits to join us for a family celebration.
In the
process of locating their photographs and decorating the altar, we remember
the dead and remind ourselves of their significance and the preciousness
of life.
At the family gathering, all share in a ceremony, in which we recall the best
qualities of our loved ones and thus inspire ourselves to be our best.

Hispanics from San Antonio to San Francisco will be celebrating the
Day of the Dead this way__an evolution of Mexico's diverse Di'a de los
Muertos traditions. In Mexico, entire families visit the cemeteries on the
first or second
day of November and devote themselves to washing the tombstones and
decorating them with flowers, photos, drinks, and garlands of
yellow-orange marigolds. Then, either in the cemeteries or in their homes,
altars, called
ofrendas, are organized to welcome the spirits home. Of course, the favorite
foods of the departed are prepared so that they may again savor their essence.

Tragically, in the past, many Mexicans who came to the United States
abandoned this tradition for revering life and death. Since their
ancestors were
not buried in the local graveyards, nor did U.S. cemeteries allow such
public gatherings as occur in Mexico, they submitted to the message to
forget their indigenous traditions and to acculturate. Fortunately, Chicano
artists of the
seventies awakened Latinos to the significance of the the Day of the Dead and
the significance of the altar to our family and community psyches. These
efforts
were followed by cultural activists who organized larger community events
to intertwine the remembrance of the dead, our culture, and our tradition
to pursue social justice.

Today, many Latino therapists, educators, and community workers urge a
return to celebrating the Day of the Dead with our extended familias,
given its
many benefits. The holiday brings family and friends together to share quality
time, prayers, and memories. The ceremony of introducing the persons
represented on the altar teaches children about their ancestors and
culture and models the practice of honoring elders and respecting life.
Youth and adults are reinspired as they remind each other of the hopes of
our abuelitos__to create a better life for their children. People who have
recently lost a loved one are
healed by sharing memories and tears.

As a youngster Rosa, a schoolteacher, loved these gatherings because they
made her family expand to include others, who she grew to enjoy as her
extended family. Now she holds a profound feeling for the tradition
because it provides her with memories that affirm who she is today__a
Chicana with
Mexican cultural roots. "I remember feeling familia, putting photos of our
relatives on the altar, holding hands together, talking to our relatives, and
sharing the stories of family I grew to love."

So this Di'a de los Muertos, recall those family and friends who have died.
In their memory, organize an altar and a familia gathering in which everyone
is invited to share memories about their loved ones, or to remind them that
we still remember and love them. In organizing the altar or ceremony, let
your intuition and the spirits guide you.

Dr. Roberto Vargas is a therapist, educator, and planning consultant based
in Castro Valley, California. For the past fourteen years he has promoted
in-home Day of the Dead ceremonies as a means of empowerment and
spiritual growth in the family and community.

HISPANIC Magazine
November 1996

[William Fisher]

Here in Texas the Day of the Dead is celebrated by cleaning and
decorating the graves of family members and leaving offerings for their
souls (typically cookies and sweet breads) At rural, family cemetaries,
all of the fences and trees are decorated to show respect and affection
for ancestors. This isn't allowed in the new pantiones in town but is
still celebrated on the ranches and colonias. Mikal Fisher