Altars and offerings.
The Mexican pre - Hispanic tradition to remember our dead is done on the first two days of November of each year. This celebration gives us the opportunity to become aware of the meaning of life through the understanding of death.
Each Mexican family celebrates it in a different way. In some states of Mexico, the tradition is full of color, rituals, legends and magic. In some other states of the country it is not celebrated.
The celebration of the Day of the Dead or of the dead, has crossed borders and many countries of the American Continent have adopted it. For example, in some schools in Canada and the United States of America, tradition is explained as part of the school curriculum.
This year, in 2020, we have experimented with the pandemic on a global level, the daily consciousness of valuing life and death. Many of us have felt closely the possibility of contagion of the virus that affects us. Many of us even have acquaintances who have died from it or are suffering from it and are battling the virus and its complications. Perhaps, we have also witnessed some who have overcome the contagion and return to their work.
We have lived a confinement that perhaps we never imagined before, not leaving the house, and if we do, wear a mask, wash our hands constantly, keep our distance.
These new measures of response to the new virus open us to a field of personal reflection. What is the meaning that I give to my life? what sense do I give to death?
This Day of the Dead, I want to invite you to reflect on your answers to these questions and stop to celebrate the Day of the Dead in a different way, because this year for everyone on this planet earth has been different.
Make an altar, maybe you've never tried doing it before.
Put the names or photos of all the people you know who have died from COVID-19, even who you don't know.
Put flowers, candles and some holy images.
Also include photos of your relatives who died in other years.
Make an offering right there, place on your altar an element of life such as fruits and water.
If you have incense, aromatize your altar for a few minutes.
Now add a song, prayer, poem or thought of gratitude to life, to this personal fight against this virus and visualize your altar with a bright flame of golden light, surrounding your altar.
Repeat this ritual of celebration for the dead during this Saturday, Sunday and Monday, establishing a specific time for each day of preference.
This tribute to Life and Death will fill you with deep inner Peace. We have all responded in different ways to this pandemic and this practice of celebrating the dead is an elevation to Life.
Blessings and Happy Day of the Dead!
-Ana
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