Day of
the dead…is really a day for the living, those here on Earth, grieving someone
we loved. It is a celebration begun over
3000 years ago by indigenous peoples of Mexico to demystify death. The tradition is to build an altar to entice
the dead to visit one day a year.
I was
intrigued by the concept as I have patiently waited seven years for my beloved
Grandma to return to me in my dreams. She
is in my waking conscious and I invite her to my dreams but she doesn’t come. I feel her spirit all around me and she is
never far from my mind or my heart.
When I
started reading about Dia de los Muertos, I decided to build an altar. I used a brass tinderbox I turned upside down
and opened up. I filled it according to
the traditions and included ofrendas, offerings. I placed a small framed portrait of her,
pictures of her with my kids when they were little, a diamond ring she gave me,
a cranberry cordial glass, a handwritten note from her and these traditional
ingredients for a Dia de los Muertos altar:
Candles –
to light her way
Marigolds
– the scent attracts the dead. Mine in
the yard had already bloomed but I was surprised that during this week Trader
Joe’s had bouquets of them.
Salt –
representing life. I put it in a crystal
saltcellar she gave me.
Sugar
pumpkin – tradition is a sugar skull but I had a sugar pumpkin instead. I added a small painted ceramic skull.
Pan de
los Muertos – I baked my own and crafted it with bones on the top
Skeleton –
representing the dead
Christmas
Ornament – The holiday that was special with her. We shared the joy of decorations, baking and
gift giving.
I went to
bed hopeful. She didn’t come. It made me sad and disappointed. I started to second-guess my ofrendas thinking I should
have left a glass of champagne for her. She was giggly when she drank. She told a story how when she sailed to Hawaii she became so
seasick all she could keep down was crackers and champagne.
Hope is a
strong emotion and I have not lost it because of this. I will try again next year. I enjoyed looking at the altar and adding to
it.
I told my
mom about the altar and that she didn’t come. She very calmly said, “Maybe you have to be
Catholic.” I am not so I will cling to
the historical indigenous people’s belief before the Catholics came in and
changed the date to the day after Halloween, All Saints Day.
I see my
Grandma in my world. I see her in a
rose, the flight of a hummingbird and when I smell coffee brewing in the
morning. I can still feel her hugs and
hear her laughter. Until next year, rest
in peace my dear Grandma.
Below is a
link to the site with the bread recipe I followed. I was skeptical as a baker when I read you do
not proof the yeast but add all the ingredients. It was perfect. I made five six-inch loaves, decorated with
bones and glazed with orange.
http://www.celebrate-day-of-the-dead.com/ Celebrate-day-of-the-dead.com
