Celebrating those who have passed and those who are living during the Day of the Dead in México is a heart warming experience. Generally, in the state of Puebla, Mexicanos celebrate Day of the Dead or día de muertos in the campo or rural areas, not big cities. Each household prepares ofrendas or offerings for their loved ones in an altar. Altars generally have three levels. The first level has food offerings (the favorite food of those that passed, and pan de muerto or bread of the dead); the second is the space between earth and heaven which has many flowers (marigolds, which are the symbol of death) and crosses; and the last level is the heavens. Papel picado, or traditional paper with stories of the dead line the walls or ceilings.
This year for día de muertos I traveled to Huaquechula, Puebla to visit some altars at night, which was both beautiful and sad. The families in this community opened their doors to visitors, providing them with food and drink. A small tray sits at the bottom of the altar, indirectly asking visitors to contribute a small donation (the ofrendas are SUPER expensive). Many of the homes offered us a warm beverage, either coffee or hot chocolate, and some pan de muerto. We followed a map to many homes, almost like a scavenger hunt to find the altars. I appreciated its beauty in silence and was struck with gratitude that yes, indeed, we still have some time to live our lives to do such wonderful and meaningful things. Simple things such as, practicing kindness.
"Kindness is one of the most undervalued commodities — which is too bad because it doesn't take much of it to turn the day around. I wonder if we overlook kindness because it's so simple. What's really involved? Someone needs something, we help. Someone feels low, we console. Someone trips, we catch them. There's a need, we respond. Then the other person is grateful and relieved — and we're happy knowing we could help. Kindness is a low-effort, high-return energy." --Joan Duncan Oliver
One of the most memorable ofrendas had this tragic, yet beautiful poem. Below is my attempt of a translation. Read it for it will make your heart sing with gratitude.
"This is certainly true.
How many flowers arrive at a person's funeral and how many flowers were enjoyed by this dead person when they were alive?
I prefer to have a rose and a word of encouragement of a loved one while I am still here, than a truck full of flowers when I go.
*The difficulties make you stronger
*The errors make you human
*The failures make you humble
*The success makes you shine
You that is reading this, if today you encounter somebody your are mad with, I invite you to reflect, to be better than yourself without waiting for anyone to change. Remember that what was given with the heart can never be replaced. Tell all those that you love, that you love and care about them, TODAY. Life, we can not purchase it.
It is not worth expressing your feelings, without actions that demonstrate your words. Hug the person that you love or care about. Gift them a smile or simply be friendly with her.
But enough!
Many times we prefer to be friendly with people we don't know, instead of the people that are always helping us.
Only because they're always there, but we believe that they will always be here, but it isn't like that and the sad thing is that when they leave forever we never had the opportunity to say to them how important they were in our lives.
Don't wait until the person is gone from your life, tell them how much you care for them, love them, need them, and how important they are to you.
Today you must live!"
