Los Angelenos love their celebrations, and with over 140 nationalities and 224 identified languages living within the 500 square miles of the city limits, there’s a colorful, culturally diverse party every day. Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican religious multi-day celebration honoring and welcoming back the souls of deceased ancestors. Halloween, October 31st, coincides with the first day of the Mexican festivities when the spirits of children are believed to return. November 1, All Saints’ Day, (celebrated since the 8th century) focuses on children or “the innocent.” November 2 is All Souls’ Day, (celebrated since the 10th century, particularly for the souls in purgatory) when the spirits of adult ancestors are believed to return to Earth.
The celebration is a happy reunion and strengthens bonds between the living and the dead, with private home-based candlelit altars, cemetery gatherings, or massive cordoned-off street festivals. Bright and odoriferous marigolds guide spirits home to their families where their photos and personal offerings await. Six centuries ago, the Aztecs used skulls as a portal to the dead, and today the tradition continues as sugar skulls are eaten by the living as a humorous head nod to the dead.
Besides the eat, drink, and be merry atmosphere is the mixture of emotions necessary when conversing with the dearly departed. The calaveras literarias (skull literature) illustrates a playfully sarcastic address to the deceased or criticism to living politicians. Several lovely epitaphs are available on-line that roast a “crazy” “idiot” “orange” Donald Trump for his foolish attempt to a build a certain wall, and other less kind jabs at incompetency. ¡Viva los muertos! -SQ
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