It wasn’t until I was living in the USA that I truly learned the meaning of this beautiful holiday: Día de los Muertos.
I was studying English at the Trinidad State Junior College when I was put on the spot! My teacher asked me to give a presentation about Día de los Muertos in front of my class because she expected me to know about it. I froze because back then I didn’t know a lot about it. It’s hard to admit but back then I was more familiarized with Halloween than with Día de los Muertos. Chihuahua, where I come from, is very similar to the United States in the traditions that we have and we have adopted most American celebrations, but sadly in the process we’ve been losing our own traditions.
To my fortune, I found a book in the library with information about what I thought was a macabre holiday. But to the contrary, I learned that El Día de los Muertos is actually a celebration about life. It’s a tribute to those who we love but who have passed away. It’s an opportunity to honor their lives, their legacy, and the eternal generational link we share in our families. More importantly, I learned that true love does not end with death.
A day full of happiness
The Day of the Dead shouldn’t be a sad or spooky day. It’s supposed to be a day full of happiness, colors, music, food and dancing. It’s a day when dead and alive come together to celebrate our love for each other. It’s a day when my son, Israel, can feel certain that his sister, Victoria Maria, is well and alive. He can feel that she’s happy and that she hasn’t left him.
On this night we drink and we dance with the ones we had the privilege to meet when they were here. We remember deeply the ones we love. We let them know they’re still alive in our memory and that they’ve taken a piece of our heart with them.
I invite you to celebrate El Día de los Muertos by making your loved ones, dead or alive, feel special! Remember that only those who are afraid to live, are afraid of dying.
Our altar for Dia de los Muertos at Lara Media Services.