The Mexican/Mexican-American celebration of the Day of the Dead is truly that—a celebration. There are times to mourn and to cry over our losses, but El día de los muertos recognizes that there are also times to remember with joy, and even festivity, those who live on in us.
Whose life do you celebrate—and how?
Today is the 2nd anniversary of the death of my brother, Dann. Most of the time I can remember him with joy, and I work hard a legacy I helped create for him (a residence for people who have been experiencing chronic homelessness and severe alcohol use disorder). But today I am just sad. I miss him.
I celebrate the lives of parents, lovers and friends. I have moved on to the happy times I remember with all of them. I think that Latin Americans have a lesson to teach us; they remember but they celebrate and let the festivities at the graves with music, food and recuerdos that they take there during the day of sharing in the cemetery as a method to make it a more acceptable way to understand death. We had a corner exhibit at out UU fellowship of Mexican décor along with photos that members brought of those they wanted to have honored.