Saturday, October 31, 2009

All Souls Day…

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Or as they call it in Mexico…

El Día de los Muertos

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I was over at Disneyland the other day and they had this huge display set up for the Festival. As I stood there staring at this large skeleton woman dressed in pink it made me wonder about the celebration and its origins.

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I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures belief systems and why they believe what they believe, but this festival I find particularly interesting. Not only is it celebrated in Mexico and South America, but many other cultures as well.

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The celebration focuses on families and friends gathering to pray for those who have died.

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Alters are built with sugar skulls and marigolds among other objects used for decoration.

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Gifts of food and drink are left at the gravesite that has been freshly cleaned. Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years, and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl (wikipedia).

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In Christian beliefs we have no such festival of honoring our dearly departed unless, of course, you want to stretch things a bit and consider communion. The breaking of the bread and drinking of the wine in remembrance of what Jesus did on the cross over 2000 years ago.

And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 11:24 & 25

6 comments:

Deborah said...

Stunning photos, Cori. So very beautiful, but not as beautiful as the True Words that follow them.
Happiest of Sundays to you, my friend. **kisskiss** Deb

Elena_Valeriote said...

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ellen b. said...

Growing up in Southern California or Northern Mexico as I affectionately call it you really see these customs and the over the top celebration of Halloween. The Molokans even have a special service and meal for their dearly departed on the anniversary of their death. I have to say I find it weird. Interesting info Cori! Glad we worship a living God :0)

Beverly said...

El Dia de los Muertos. I've always thought this was such a wonderful holiday.

And, it looks so pretty in these pictures. They should have come for Pink Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, LIFE SIZED? That would surely be amazing! When PC Boy was little, and I was homeschooling, he decided to try on alot of different customs from different cultures and religions. Day of the Dead stuck with us, because we both loved (and now Cowboy, too) the idea of giving those who have gone on a sort of happy day instead of the melancholy sadness with which their birthdays or anniversary of their passings are often frought with.
Day of the Dead is also correlated to the Catholic tradition of All Souls and All Saints Day.
Lovely, it is.
XOXOXOXOX

http://afancifultwist.typepad.com said...

Ooooooooooooo!! Your pictures are UNREAL! Di dyou say In Disneyland??? Dia de los Muertos??? Wholey Guacamole, cooool! I am impressssed! How wonderful! xoxo

Back to drooling over the photos I go!! You did awesome!!