On 10/3/2017 8:29 AM, Gary wrote:
> Nice thing I read a few years ago..."No one is truly dead as long
> as they are remembered."

The very essence of "el Dia de los Muertos"!


http://www.niu.edu/newsplace/nndia.html

El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), a Mexican celebration, is a
day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those
who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the
cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado , flowers, candy
calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades.
It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on
October 31 and leave on November 2.

In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place ofrendas
(offerings) of food such as pan de muertos baked in shapes of skulls and
figures, candles, incense, yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (also
spelled zempasuchil) and most importantly a photo of the departed soul
is placed on the altar.

It might sound somewhat morbid, but the Mexicans react to death with
mourning along with happiness and joy. They look at death with the same
fear as any other culture, but there is a difference. They reflect their
fear by mocking and living alongside death.

Living alongside death means that Mexicans have to learned to accept it
within their lives. Death is apparent in everyday life. It is in art and
even in children's toys. It is not respected as it is in other cultures.
Children play "funeral" with toys that are made to represent coffins and
undertakers.

Death is laughed at in its face. Many euphemisms are used for death, La
calaca (the skeleton), la pelona ("baldy"), la flaca ("skinny"), and la
huesada ("bony"). There are refranes, sayings, and poems that are
popular with day of the dead. These sayings are cliches and lose meaning
when translated. For example "La muerte es flaca y no puede conmigo"
means "Death is skinny/weak and she can't carry me." Calaveras (skulls)
are decorated with bright colors with the name of the departed inscribed
on the head. Children carrying yellow marigolds enjoy the processions to
the cemetery. At the cemetery, music is played and dances are made to
honor the spirits.

Death is a celebration in Mexico. Death is among them.