Aloha Bloggers!
YMCA Camp Erdman's Halloween Family Camp is this weekend from October 30th to November 1st. Due to the high number of international staff we have here at the Erd, we'll be getting them to weigh in on what Halloween is like in their home countries!
We'll start with Mexico's Dia de Muertos... article by Guillermo from Chihuahua, Mexico!
The "Day of the Dead" is one of the most ancient traditions that Mexico holds in honor of their dead. This is a festival filled with music, color, food and joy -- typical of a major popular festival.
Unlike a series and unfortunate habit, Mexicans celebrate on November 2nd. For them, the "Day of the Dead" is one of the biggest holidays of the year as they get their ancestors back to life on earth. A day of joy and bliss! Currently, the Dead of the Dead in Mexico represents a mixture of Christian devotion and pre-Hispanic customs and beliefs and is embodied in the traditional altar-offering, one of the most Mexican traditions.
The altar is a ritual offering respectful to the memory of the dead, their purpose is to attract spirits. On November 2, the dead have obtained permission to visit with their families, and their families are waiting for them with food and their favorite objects in life - a way to settle back and enjoy their brief visit. In the offering, the altar must not miss the representation of the four primordial elements of nature: water, wind, earth and fire. The offering also contains salt (purified), incense (the spirits are guided by smell), and Cempasuchitl flower that is watered from the door to the altar to show the way to the souls.
This is a festival dedicated to those who are no longer with us and where music, color and typical food make a great holiday.
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