The Art of Remembering

“So long as we are being remembered, we remain alive.”

― Carlos Ruiz Zafón

For most of us, autumn is a contemplative season. If spring represents birth and renewal, and summer the glory and vitality of youth, then there is a wise wistfulness to the fall, of reflecting before the inevitable coming of winter and death. Being a transitory season, not quite summer and not quite winter, many cultures have viewed this time of year as a season where magical things can happen.

Halloween and the Day of the Dead are in many ways very different holidays from different places, but they are both based on this idea that this time of year is special, and that the border between worlds becomes thin and spirits can move amongst us. The ancient Celts of Ireland would leave out food and treats to try to appease the spirits that may cross over. From here it is easy to see where trick or treating evolved from, and the Celtic holiday of Samhain eventually became a major source for modern Halloween. The Aztecs believed that in the fall, spirits of loved ones could cross over, and visit us for a while. It wasn’t a time of sorrow, but a time of joy and remembering those who are dead but are not gone from our hearts. For the Aztecs, death was merely a door to another room, and we keep people alive by remembering and honoring them. These ancient beliefs underpin the modern practices of the Day of the Dead. 

El Día de los Muertos is largely celebrated, both in private homes and in public displays, by the creation of ofrendas. These offerings or altars are meant to be a physical manifestation of the remembering, complete with photos of the deceased and items that they enjoyed or used, such as candy, cigarettes, or cans of beer. There are a lot of personal and regional variations in the styles of ofrendas, but there are certain symbolic items that are placed on the ofrenda that are crucial and long predate the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico. 

One of the most important symbols of the Day of the Dead is cempasúchil, the Aztec name for the fragrant marigold flower native to Mexico. The Aztecs believed cempasúchil had a special smell that would guide the dead back to their families, so it is naturally an important part of the ofrenda. The flower is associated with Mictecacihuatl, or the Lady of the Dead, who permitted spirits to leave the underworld to commune with their families. 

There are other ancient components of the ofrenda. Ceramic or sugar skulls are included to represent the truth that death is a part of life. An important element of the altar is salt, which represents the purification of the dead after they have moved on from this life. The salt is meant to purify the souls of the ancestors, so that they are able to travel back and visit next year. Candles are included to represent hope and faith, and light the way to the altar. An important symbol of the spirit and the afterlife is the xolo. Native to Mexico and one of the few domesticated animals of the Aztecs, the breed xoloitzcuintli was believed to help the spirits of the dead cross the Chiconauhuapan river and enter the underworld, Mictlān. In ancient times, people were even buried with these dogs. But today, placing a figurine on an altar will do. On my ofrenda, my xoloitzcuintli is also an alebrije, a spirit animal that is meant to guide and protect the dead as they travel through Mictlān. A common offering that is placed on the altar is water. In ancient times and today, it is believed that that the first thing the souls of the departed ask for after arriving in the underworld is water, as they are parched from their long journey. 

In my second year living in Mexico, I decided to make my first ofrenda, in large part because I find the tradition touching and also, I hope, cathartic. In the United States, we tend to work very hard not to think about death and mortality, despite its universal inevitability. We pay a high price for these mental gymnastics: We often don’t take the necessary time to think of our loved ones who are gone, how they cared for us and made us the people we are today. As I look upon the faces of my grandparents, so young in their photos, I can’t help but wonder about their dreams and aspirations, if their lives turned out as they hoped, and what it must have been like to live through the Great Depression and World War II. El Día de los Muertos is not supposed to be a sad day, but a celebration, and yet I can’t help feeling bittersweet about the whole experience. These were people I loved. People who made me feel safe and loved. I am sad they are gone. But the Day of the Dead has given me the opportunity to honor them and be grateful. And maybe invite them to visit for a while. 

💀🇲🇽I made this for my aunts, uncles & grandma in Iran that have past on…offerings to my relatives include black tea & saffron ✊🏽☠️ #WomanLifeFreedom #iranianmexicanfusion #iranianmexicanamerican #iranianmexican #IranianAmerican #MexicanAmerican #DayoftheDead #DíadeLosMuertos #ofrenda #altardemuertos (at Baldwin Hills Branch - Los Angeles Public Library) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckcm59ZOgQU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Dia de los Muertos VIBES. How do you celebrate? What’s on your altar? 💐💐 this tradition of honoring the dead in a yearly manner starter before the AZTEC empire. Google the newly discovered Tlatilco culture found in central Mexico. They thought it was a necropolis but no… it was just a custom in which actually they used to burry their dead in the house… say the “living room” for lack of a better term. And yearly they presented offerings to commemorate their dead. CENTURIES later here we are … enjoy. Remember your beloved departed ones. ♥️♥️♥️ Love is eternal. . . Photo: @miguelvazquezphotography Thank you forever 🙏 . #balletfolklorico #folklorico #balletfolkloricoleyenda #leyendaballetfolklorico #dayofthedead #dayofthedeadmakeup #dayofthedeadskull #dayofthedeadart #dayofthedeadgirl #ddlm #diadelosmuertos #diadelosmuertosmakeup #díadelosmuertos #diadelosmuertosart #diadelosmuertos2022 #sugarskull #sugarskulls #sugarskullmakeup #sugarskullgirl #calaveramakeup #calaverasmexicanas #lacatrina #lacatrinamakeup #elcatrin https://www.instagram.com/p/CkekL28PyK4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"Día de los Muertos"⁠

Halloween 2020:⁠ TRADITOUR⁠

https://www.pumpkidgrove.de

Día de los Muertos

El Día de los Muertos es un lienzo de sabores y colores en México. Desde el dulce pan de muerto hasta los ricos tamales, cada platillo es un homenaje a quienes ya no están. 🌼💀✨

3 dos festivais culturais mais incríveis do mundo.

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Two young ladies attended the Optimist club's #díadelosmuertos sip N paint event last Sunday. Their decorated #skulls💀 are awesome. ✌️🫶🦋💙 (at Klownski Vendors and Small business owners) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkwachBStX1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Fall at Maryland Hall ! - - - - - - #marylandhall #FallMaryland #maryland #mdinfocus #visitannapolis #autumn🍁🍂🍃 #annapolismaryland #díadelosmuertos (at Maryland Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckv16IHroyC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

• Día de Muertos 🏵 // Hey everyone, how y'all doing? Hope you've been keeping well - I initially planned on posting this on Nov. 2nd/3rd, but my previous phone broke, and I've had to take some time with the aftermath/recovery of what's happened in my personal time. That being said, I wanted to share a couple more pictures from my time working with @jovinleee_ and sharing a bit about the culture/tradition - I want the ethereal nature of these pics to speak for themselves 💀 - - - - - #díadelosmuertos #goldenskull #goldenleaf #blackflower #blackandgold #darkaesthetic #blackflower #skullmakeup #diademuertos #blackveil (at Island of Maui) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cku001bOEbo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#díadelosmuertos (en San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cko4mQ4pH6g/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Dia de Los Muertos at Olvera Street Azteca dancers, cover bands, face painting memorials and tons of people—this is how Olvera Street celebrates the Day of the Dead #diadelosmuertos #díadelosmuertos #dayofthedead #olverastreet #olverast #losangeles #urbanhike (at La Placita Olvera) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkgYZXXrT-0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Dia de los Muertos VIBES. How do you celebrate? What’s on your altar? 💐💐 this tradition of honoring the dead in a yearly manner starter before the AZTEC empire. Google the newly discovered Tlatilco culture found in central Mexico. They thought it was a necropolis but no… it was just a custom in which actually they used to burry their dead in the house… say the “living room” for lack of a better term. And yearly they presented offerings to commemorate their dead. CENTURIES later here we are … enjoy. Remember your beloved departed ones. ♥️♥️♥️ Love is eternal. . . . . #balletfolklorico #folklorico #balletfolkloricoleyenda #leyendaballetfolklorico #dayofthedead #dayofthedeadmakeup #dayofthedeadskull #dayofthedeadart #dayofthedeadgirl #ddlm #diadelosmuertos #diadelosmuertosmakeup #díadelosmuertos #diadelosmuertosart #diadelosmuertos2022 #sugarskull #sugarskulls #sugarskullmakeup #sugarskullgirl #calaveramakeup #calaverasmexicanas #lacatrina #lacatrinamakeup #elcatrin #halloween #halloween2022 #evententertainment #evententertainers #corporateentertainment #corporateentertainer (at Riverside, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkgVoDmrhgy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"Der Schädel"⁠ "The Skull"⁠

Halloween 2020:⁠ TRADITOUR⁠

https://www.pumpkidgrove.de

Día de los Muertos

Y ellos siguen viviendo, porque en la muerte no hay memoria. #DíaDeLosMuertos #fyp #TradiciónAndina (en San Sebastián, Cusco, Peru) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkfFvUCu0Xa6McGWDGB98TZNLfJgsX3EpxONFA0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=