Halloween and Day of the Dead

Hi[image error] everyone,

I know you expected Debralee but unfortunately she's one of the thousands out of power because of our recent snow storm.  I'm filling in for her.

Last night was filled with Halloween festivity–pumpkin carving, pumpkin seed roasting, and waiting for Trick or Treaters.

These pumpkins are on my dining room table, and my daughter is preparing to put glow sticks in them and put them outside on the front steps.  [image error]

Our cat Buffy supervised the work, watching my daughter carefully making sure everything went just right from ripping out the guts of the pumpkins to the carving of the faces.

When the work was done, Buffy went into the living room to watch "Hocus Pocus."  I think she's a real Sarah Jessica Parker fan.

As Halloween fades, the Day of the Dead is upon us.

I understand that in Mexico, Nov. 1 and 2 are considered the Day of the Dead.  Nov. 1st being All Saints Day and Nov. 2nd being All Souls Day.  In some places Nov. 1st is to remember dead children (Day of the Innocents or Day of Little Angels) and Nov. 2nd is for adults.   People clean the graves, erect altars,  and decorate them and bring the favorite food and drink of the departed.  They decorate with sugar skulls and marigolds.  They bring toys for the departed children.  It's a time for families to get together and pray for departed loved ones.  Often families will picnic on the grave.

I haven't been to Mexico or other places in the world to see the Day of the Dead celebrated.  What I understand is secondhand knowledge.  If you have participated in this sacred celebration, we would love to hear from you.   If you would like to know more, visit  http://www.dayofthedead.com/

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: Day of the Dead, Halloween traditions, Susan Hanniford Crowley [image error] [image error] [image error]