Don't mourn the dead. Throw them a party!
Imagine the standard scene after your death. Loved ones light sad candles, lay down depressing flowers, and whisper quietly as if they're afraid to wake you up. A classic. Respect through solemnity.
Now, take a look at Mexico and their Día de Muertos, deliberately scheduled in the calendar for November 1st and 2nd, right next to the Catholic All Saints' Day. Here, the logic is completely different, and therefore brilliant in its simplicity. Mexicans believe that death is a natural part of life, and the souls of the dead return home for one day to visit us.
So ask yourself: when a long-lost, beloved guest comes to your home, what do you do? Cry in the corner? No. You throw them a welcome party!
That's why instead of quiet sighs, they set up colorful altars, and the table groans under the weight of the deceased's favorite food and drinks. Families have picnics on graves, with the joyful music of mariachi playing in the background. Death is not a taboo subject to be rejected here – it's a reason for celebration. This isn't a funeral; it's a family reunion where someone, unfortunately, is permanently late.
The biggest paradox? Although the holiday was deliberately overlaid onto a Catholic date, instead of Catholic contemplation, we have a purely pre-Columbian custom of having a blast with the dead! The Church sewed on its label, but underneath, the old, indigenous soul still buzzes, one that treats death like an older, somewhat grim, but respected aunt at a family gathering.
And the most important figure in this whole commotion isn't a saint, but an elegant lady. Or more precisely – her skeleton. La Catrina. This distinguished, bony lady with a hat from the early 20th century has become an icon. With an ironic smile, she reminds us that beneath the layers of status, wealth, and ego, we all end up the same. In the face of death, we are all equal.
You have to admit, the Mexican version seems much more pleasant for the spirit!
