El Día De Los Muertos

My mom sent me a text last night that read "What do people do in Mexico City on Halloween?"

I immediately felt overwhelmed by this question and I still haven't replied to her message.

(sorry mom, I'm writing you a blog post instead)

What do Mexicans do for Halloween. Good question, mom. Great question actually. 

First off, I would like to clarify that I am not Mexican (if that wasn't already incredibly obvious). And for me to explain Mexican traditions feels to me like a dog trying to explain what it's like to be a cat. Or like Santa Clause explaining what it's like to be the SuperMan. I can explain what I have observed here but this part of the culture will never be apart of me like it is for many Mexicans. 

Second. In Mexico, there is Halloween and there is El Día De Los Muertos. And they are different. Halloween is October 31st (samesies) and the Day of the Dead is November 1st and 2nd. 

As a Northern North American, when I think of Halloween, I think of my family, favorite friends, trick or treating, watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, and eating candy. I think of the most clever costumes I have seen people wear and the inevitably cliché costumes that more than 50% of the kids are dressed up as each year. 

And if I ever saw someone dressed up as something scary, it was my opinion that it was because they weren't creative enough to think of something cool. 

Never in my childhood have I thought of Halloween and at the same time thought of death, or dead relatives, or really anything other than my favorite candy. Which are gummy life savers and swedish fish, for the record.

ahem. 

Here in Mexico, this time of year is much different than my childhood experiences with Halloween. Although, many of the Halloween traditions that we see in the States are "practiced" during this time. You know, trick or treating and all that. 

But here is the difference that I have observed with Halloween. 

It is less of a celebration of how much candy you can get and more of a celebration of death.

Now, the Day of the Dead is another thing in itself. This day focuses on remembering the dead- those who have passed on to another life. People (and by people, I mean like almost everyone minus most christians) put up what are called ofrendas (which are essentially altars) in there homes to honor their loved ones. 

Here's a picture of a typical ofrenda which, to be honest, I just googled so I have no idea who that lady is. 

These ofrendas are adorned with flowers, candles, skulls made out of sugar and with food and drinks that the deceased enjoyed during their life. The traditional belief is that during these days of the dead, those who have passed away can revisit earth in the form of a spirit and that they eat and drink the what was left for them on the altar. 

One of the iconic symbols of this day is this chick and pretty much any image or costume that resembles this:

Tons of people dress up like this and it scares the crap out of me. 

El Día De Los Muertos is a very unique tradition and I was happy to be able to be here in Mexico during this time of year to see what it's like.
This time of year (although now it's over- bad blog updater award) is a great opportunity for us to pray for Mexico. Pray that there will be a great revival, a great revolution of the name of Jesus Christ rather than the name of death and the destruction that comes along with celebrating it.
Well, thanks for checking in, folks. I am alive and well here in DF.
Still stumbling along with my Spanish like a drunken sailor, but I'm alive and well. 

If you want find me, I'll be out celebrating the LIFE that Christ has given me. 
None of that death business.