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For Dearly Departed, A Welcome Home

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 1, 2007

The Mexican holiday Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) coincides with All Saints Day, Nov. 1. All Souls Day is Nov. 2.

The holiday is a celebration of the return of departed loved ones. People welcome the dead into their homes with altars adorned with flowers, especially marigolds, candied skulls, artifacts, photographs of the deceased, traditional Mexican foods, even cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. On Nov. 2, the relatives visit cemeteries to decorate the graves of loved with flowers and gifts.

The spirits of the deceased eat the spiritual aspect of the foods, and the relatives consume the rest.

La calaca, a Day of the Dead skeleton made of wood, papier-mâche, clay or wax and sugar, watches over everything with a big smile. The figurines reassure the deceased that they have found the right house and are welcome.

While skeletons are regarded as a symbol of death, las calacas are always happy, enjoying their afterlife. They show that death is a beginning, not an end.

A staff report

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