Dia De Los Muertos Comes North
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — On Nov. 1, we often have pot roast and drink Old Milwaukee at our house, because those were Ferd’s favorites. Ferd was my husband’s grandfather. We also light a candle on our small Dia De Los Muertos altar next to Ferd’s picture, and my husband Matt tells stories about him and about his Tata, who has also passed on.
My mom is from Indiana and doesn’t quite understand my collection of skeleton paintings and statues. She thinks they’re morbid. But I’m enchanted with this wonderful tradition. And I’m not alone. It’s become popular north of the border.
Many in the United States are embracing the Day of the Dead tradition. Whether it’s through their personal ofrendas (offerings) like ours or participating in a procession. There are many especially in cities with large Latino populations. And sometimes they incorporate Native American dances.
Many make sugar skulls with the name of the departed loved one on the forehead. And there are several YouTube videos showing how to do the very popular sugar skull makeup.
In a sign of its growing popularity and recognition in this country, recently Disney even tried to trademark “Dia De Los Muertos” for a Pixar film but, after a widespread backlash, the company withdrew the trademark.
In Mexico some wear wooden skull masks in a procession then place them on their altar. Others who live in rural areas in Mexico and Latin America visit the cemetary and decorate gravestones of the departed with marigolds and candles.
The Day of the Dead has Aztec roots that eventually merged with the Catholic church’s All Saints Day and All Souls Day. When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in Mexico more than 500 years ago they thought the tradition sacrilegious. As the Arizona Republic points out, instead of fearing death the indigenous embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake.
It’s origins give Mexico City another reason to celebrate both Friday and Saturday this year. It’s the 100th anniversary of the death of the artist who first depicted La Catrina, as she’s called. Jose Guadalupe Posada sketched the iconic skeleton lady in her broad brimmed hat sometime between 1910 and 1913. The satirical engraving was meant to mock those of Indian origin who tried to look high class and European.
Posada said drawing her as a skeleton was a way to reject the social classes.
“Death is democratic,” Posada said at the time. “At the end, regardless of whether you are white, dark, rich or poor, we all end up as skeletons.”
Andrew Chesnut, author of "Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint" told the Associated Press that Catrina's rise in the U.S. is part of the increasing Mexican and Latin American influence in the United States.
She is kind of a perfect example of integrating both traditions and not seeing any contradiction or problems with that," Chesnut said. He said more and more U.S. families, not only of Mexican descent, are setting up altars and celebrating Day of the Dead.
