Dia de los muertos

I woke up early this morning (first to go to boot camp) and then to shape and rise my pan de muerto.  Today – November 2 – is Dia de los Muertos.  Andrew has been learning about and preparing for this celebratory day at Kindergarten, and so I thought we’d celebrate as a family too.  Last night before going to bed, he drew a picture of my mom for the alter they have set up in the classroom to honor deceased ancestors.  I told him he could alternatively or also draw pictures of any of his great-grand parents who are no longer with us, but he said he’d like to draw just Grandma Margot because, “She was your mom.”

For those of you (like I was a few months ago) who are unfamiliar with this ancient holiday, here’s a little summary.

“Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) is one of Mexico’s most traditional holidays, reuniting and honoring beloved ancestors, family and friends.

It is a celebration going back hundreds of years, that Aztec, Mayan, Toltec, Nahua, Tlaxcaltec, Chichimec and Tecpan indigenous peoples used to practice. In the Mexican culture, through this tradition, death seems to hold no terror.

“Día de los Muertos” is not a mournful commemoration, but instead,  a happy and colorful celebration where death takes on a lively, friendly expression and is not a frightening stranger. A very beautiful, commemorative and colorfuly adorned table with mementos of the departed, their favorite foods and symbolic offerings like water, salt and pictures of the loved one, is created. This is called the “altar,” where candles dispel the darkness, just as the souls are being illuminated from the shadows of death.

My recipe for pan de muerto comes from Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. I can’t attest to the actual bread yet (it’s still rising), but the dough is unbelievable!  It’s like cinnamon challah with extra butter:)

In honor of Dia de los Muertos, here are some photos of our beloved deceased ancestors.  I hope to think of them often with a smile today.

Here’s my mommy: Margot

Here’s Bryan’s paternal grandpa: Dandy (a.k.a. Grover)

Here are my sweet paternal grandparents:Grandma (Lucille) and Grandpa (Mike) Babler

Here is Grandma Harey (a.k.a. Lola Mae)

Those are the deceased ancestors for whom I have digital pictures.  Bryan’s Great-Grandma Doll passed away in 1999, and my maternal Grandpa Joe passed away in the early ’70s.  Oh, I did just find a photo of Grandpa Joe.

That’s Grandpa Joe standing in the middle (between his parents??).  My mom is on the bottom right with Peter, Kirk, and Katie to her left.

I hope you can find some festive and joyful ways to honor your deceased loved ones today!  I’m intrigued by this holiday that attempts to translate pain into celebration.  Should be fun!

Fondly,

Althea