Mexican Day of the Dead

Colorful altar with sugar skulls, food, and flowers

     Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday observed throughout Mexico. The holiday focuses on gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember family and friends who have died. This celebration takes place on October 31^st, November 1^st, and November 2^nd.  On these days people build altars called "Ofrendas" to honor the deceased. Sugar skulls, favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts is a common tradition. They also leave possessions of the deceased at their graves.

Altar with food, pictures, and candles

 

         This holiday is very important to the Mexican heritage. Schools and government offices usually have altars omitting religious symbols. October 31^st refers to inviting the Angelitos (“Spirits of Dead Children”). November 1^st refers as Dia de los Inocentes (“Day of the Innocents”), and November 2^nd as Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead"). Throughout these 3 days, people go to the cemeteries to be with the souls of other departed and take Pan de Muerto ("Bread for the Dead”) and Cempasuchitl, also referred as Flor De Muerto (marigold flowers). The families also take toys and candles for the children and Tequila, Mezcal, Pulque, or jars of Atole for Adults. The intent for this is to encourage visits by the souls so the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them.

Sugar skulls and Pan de Puerto

        Celebrations can also be humorous as family members remember funny events and anecdotes of the departed.

        Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by this civilization for as long as 2,500 to 3000 years. In the Pre-Hispanic era, skulls were commonly kept as trophies and displayed during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.  Even though this holiday is particularly celebrated in Mexico, other countries like Brazil and Spain and countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa have started similar themed celebrations.

People gather at graves of the deceased

Article was written by LAMP Interpreter, Janette A.

Nepali Traditional Celebration Dashain

Nepal Flag (www.iconarchive.com)

Dashain is the biggest and most important festival of Nepal. It generally falls in late September and mid October. Dashain is celebrated for ten days. This year, the first day of Dashain is on September 25^th and the tenth day is on October 3^rd . This holiday symbolizes the victory of good over evil. During Dashain, goddess Durga, who saved the earth from the demons, is worshiped. The first nine days signify the battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasaur. The tenth day is the most important day which commemorates the victory of goddess Durga over the demons.

Goddess Durga (www.wikipedia.com)

On the first day of Dashain (Ghatasthapana), people start growing jamara (sacred yellow grass). Everyday during Dashain, people visit many different temples of the goddess Durga and seek for her blessings. 

Tika and jamara (www.wikipedia.com)

On the tenth day, people take tika (mixture of raw rice, red powder, sugar and yogurt) on the forehead from elders. They also take jamara and receive blessings. Dashain is also important in the sense that brings the family members and relatives close together as they travel to receive blessings from their elders.

Written by: Kamal T., a Nepali interpreter for LAMP