{"id":4358,"date":"2010-11-01T01:10:13","date_gmt":"2010-11-01T06:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=4412"},"modified":"2010-10-20T14:15:00","modified_gmt":"2010-10-20T19:15:00","slug":"lets-spell-it-out-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2010\/11\/01\/lets-spell-it-out-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Spell it Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This time of year we either think of the Celtic holy day of Samhain or its American reinvention, Halloween.\u00a0 For the purposes of this article, I strive to \u201cspice things up\u201d a bit, by sharing with you the Mexican Day of the Dead, or El Dia de los Muertos, the one day each year that Death takes off from work.<\/p>\n

Beginning on October 31st<\/sup> and ending on November\u00a0 2nd<\/sup>, the Day of the Dead, or Los Dia de los Meurtos, or Days<\/em> of the Dead, is when revelers dress in costumes, feast and honor Death and those that have departed this realm.\u00a0 This is a national holiday, and is considered by many to be the most important festival.<\/p>\n

Global Customs of Honoring the Dead<\/span><\/p>\n

It is not uncommon to find ancient practices from around the world where the spirits of lost loved ones are honored and revered.\u00a0 Although most occur during the season of Autumn, others fall in the Spring or Summer.\u00a0 For instance April has days set aside by the Chinese and the Germanic peoples.\u00a0 The Chinese have Ching Ming (Tomb Sweeping Day), which has been popular since 3700 BCE, on either April 5th<\/sup> or 6th<\/sup>, depending on their calendar.\u00a0 In Germany, Walpurgis or Walpurgisnacht, night of the goddess Walpurga, falls on Aprils 30th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The Japanese celebrate the Festival of Souls, called either Obon or Bon, on either July 13th<\/sup> or August 15, depending on their calendar.\u00a0 In the Fall, the All Saints Day Fiesta is celebrated in the Philippines and in Mexico as well as parts of America the Day of the Dead, El Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated from October 27th<\/sup> through November 2nd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Origins of the Day of the Dead<\/span><\/p>\n

Although now patriarchal and Catholic, Mexico didn\u2019t start out that way and neither did the honoring of the beloved ancestors.\u00a0 Its roots go back to the Aztecs who believed that the souls of the dead returned to Mexico with the Autumnal Monarch Butterfly migration.\u00a0 When the Spanish conquered and converted the native Central and South Americans, they brought along with them the European Christian practices of Hallowmas and All Souls Eve (October 31st<\/sup>) and All Saints Day or All Souls Day (November 1st<\/sup> or 2nd<\/sup>).\u00a0 Many scholars believe that the Mexican Day do the Dead is a conglomeration of these customs with those of the Aztecs.\u00a0 In northern America, the Puritans tried to extinguish the customs of the Pagans, but in Central and South America, the date and concept were perfectly plausible to the native peoples as it coincided with their already established Day of the Dead.<\/p>\n

Spirits of the Day of the Dead<\/span><\/p>\n

When hearing the word \u201cfairy\u201d, one usually thinks of the nature spirits of the Celtic peoples.\u00a0 But, faeries are found worldwide, including in the Mexican and Central American folklore.\u00a0 The spirits of the Day of the Dead celebration, who appear as pudgy children, are called Jimaninos, pronounced\u00a0 heem-awn-neen-yo\u2019s, (the feminine version is Jimaninas) which means \u201clittle children\u201d or Angelitos, the spirits of dead children.\u00a0 By whichever name they are called, they are usually shy, except during the Day of the Dead celebration.\u00a0 They accompany the living during the festivities including dancing, feasting and visiting the cemeteries.\u00a0 These sprits are not forgotten, in fact, special care is taken; men make small altars of clay upon which special food and treats made by women and toys are placed.\u00a0 It is thought that at the stroke of midnight that these children, who do not fully understand that they are in fact dead, come and take the essence of the offerings.\u00a0 Perhaps, like the American Halloween, the treats are to keep away the tricks; these faeries are known to play pranks on the day of the Dead.<\/p>\n

Treats, No Tricks<\/span><\/p>\n

Women are very busy all day long preparing food that will be enjoyed come sunset by both the living and the dead.\u00a0 The living, all dressed up and carrying colorful candles or lanterns, take the food and drink to the local graveyard where everyone feasts in revelry until midnight, when they all go to midnight mass in a more solemn mood.\u00a0 A plate of food that was set aside for the spirits of the departed, filled with their favorite dishes, is taken back home and set out either at the head of the kitchen table or on the family altar which is the power point of the home as well as the door between the living and the dead.\u00a0 This way, any spirits who show up in the middle of the night will feel welcome.\u00a0 These offerings of food for the deceased are called ofrendas, which means \u201cmortuary food\u201d.\u00a0 The altars are more elaborate than usual for hits celebration, they are decorated with marigolds and skulls made from either marzipan or bread.\u00a0 At one time actual skulls of the ancestors were decorated, but the Church frowns upon having a real skull, so this ancient Celtic and South American practice has been replaced by \u201cskeletal treats\u201d.\u00a0 These skeletons and skulls are everywhere and made from bread, chocolate, molded sugar and candy.\u00a0 Come dawn the following day, this food will be physically eaten by the living, but most people will tell you that is has absolutely no taste because the flavor, which is the astral essence of the food, had be spiritually \u201ceaten\u201d by the dead who came to visit the previous night.<\/p>\n

Images of Death: Skulls, Ghosts and Graveyards <\/span><\/p>\n

Similar to the American Halloween, there are oodles of decorations for the Day of the Dead celebration.\u00a0 Everywhere are calaveras, which is Spanish for \u201cskull\u201d, but refers to all sorts of curios and mementos with the \u201cdeath\u201d theme.\u00a0 These can be purchased by vendors in the town square and are used to decorate homes and villages.<\/p>\n

Many stores will be closed on the Day of the Dead so that everyone as a family unit can participate in the preparation; including weeding, raking and decorating graves as well as setting up the altar in the home just in time for the festivities that start at sunset.<\/p>\n

Villagers dress in brilliant costumes, including skeletons, mummies, ghosts or ghouls.\u00a0 They parade through the town holding calacas, handmade puppets, and also carry an open coffin with a living person dressed as corpse inside.<\/p>\n

Some families will arrive the night of October 31st<\/sup> while others celebrate on November 1st<\/sup> or 2nd<\/sup>.\u00a0 They bring with them picnic baskets filled with the feast, red candles, incense, tequila and musical instruments so they can play lively music to the dead until midnight.<\/p>\n

Tex-Mex Celebrations <\/span><\/p>\n

The name for the Day of the Dead is slightly different on the northern side of the border.\u00a0 It is either called El Dia de los Difuntos (the Day of the Deceased) or El Dia de los Finados (the Day of the Finished and\/or Departed).The focus on the celebration is on the importance of the of the separation of the separation of the living and the dead but reconnecting the two through memories.\u00a0\u00a0 Again, this is both a social gathering as well as a religious practice.\u00a0 Unlike the Mexican Day of the Dead, feasting is not the central theme of this event.\u00a0 Instead, the focus is on the graveyard maintenance and decoration of the cemetery, where friends and relatives gather and storytelling.<\/p>\n

The Spell\/Ritual<\/span><\/p>\n

The purpose of this magickal working is for you to make a spiritual connection with someone that you love that has moved on from this realm to that of the Summerland.\u00a0 This could be done privately or if you would rather in a group setting.<\/p>\n

Supplies:<\/span> red candle, bowl of saltwater or Holy Water, lighter\/matches, white flowers, picture of the deceased, offering (ofrenda or plate of food, or some other type of offering that your loved one would enjoy) and incense (to bring the friendly spirits near, use Cinnamon, Lavender, Mastic, Musk, Pepperwort, Red Storax, Saffron and Wormwood; to attune your senses to the sprit realm, use Balm of Gilead, Sage and Sandalwood; to assist seeing the spirits, use Amaranth, Mastic, Sage and Yarrow and to bring in the Mexican\/Azteca energies, use Bay, Copal, Frankincense, Lemongrass, Marigold, Rosemary, Sage and Yerba Santa).<\/p>\n

Altar decorations:<\/span> if you wish, you may add Monarch Butterflies, Calacas (puppets), toys and treats for the Jimaninos\/Angelitos and play music in the background.<\/p>\n

Space Clearing: If you wish, either create Sacred Space or cast a Magick Circle in the manner of your tradition.<\/p>\n

Statement of purpose:\u00a0 stand at your altar and say:<\/p>\n

\u201cOn this night when the Veil is thin<\/p>\n

I\/We honor the ancestors, both friend and kin;<\/p>\n

I\/We call to them for visitation<\/p>\n

During this Day of the Dead Celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acknowledgement of the Elements:<\/p>\n

Light the incense and walk the circle\/area in a clockwise direction while saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the power of Air and Fire<\/p>\n

I\/We bring about our deep desire<\/p>\n

To spend time with family and friends<\/p>\n

Whose life in this world did end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Put the incense down and pick up the bowl of salt water.\u00a0 Sprinkle it around the area while walking clockwise and saying:<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the power of Water and Earth,<\/p>\n

I\/We honor the cycle of life, death and rebirth;<\/p>\n

Tonight we come together once again,<\/p>\n

Let our love now enter in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Place white flowers in vases in the center of the circle on the altar to honor Spirit and say:<\/p>\n

\u201cBy North, South, East and West;<\/p>\n

Living and dead, we are blessed.<\/p>\n

Spirit, guide us on our journey,<\/p>\n

Love is the bond, and the key.\u201d<\/p>\n

Light the candle and focus on the picture of the deceased.\u00a0 With your loving thoughts, send an invitation to them across time and space to join you.\u00a0 The light is their \u201clighthouse\u201d to better find you, so say:<\/p>\n

\u201cA spark in the night lights the way<\/p>\n

So you may find me on this day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Offering: if you have prepared a plate of food, place it upon the altar and say:<\/p>\n

Tonight we feast as we did before,<\/p>\n

I ask that you walk through the door;<\/p>\n

Stay with me as long as you wish<\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve prepared your favorite dish.<\/p>\n

At this point, you could share stories and memories, recreate your own version of the parade or go to the cemetery and do some housecleaning.<\/p>\n

You can end at the traditional stroke of Midnight, or whenever you feel is correct.\u00a0 In your own words, thank your loved one for spending time with you and say your farewells.\u00a0 If you cast a Circle, close it in the manner of your tradition.<\/p>\n

After the ritual:<\/p>\n