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Never fear Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead 'a joyous and respectful holiday'

By Josh Kegley jkegley@herald-leader.com

Halloween is Saturday night, but if you don't get your fill of skeletons, graveyards and the like, never fear: Christ Church Cathedral and the Living Arts and Science Center will celebrate the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, at a community festival on Sunday.

Despite their close dates, Halloween and Day of the Dead do not share an origin.

"There's been a lot of misunderstanding from non-Latino people that this is somehow Latin America's version of Halloween, and it's actually not at all related," said Heather Lyons, executive director at LASC. "It's a really joyous and respectful holiday that's much more like our Memorial Day."

Halloween is widely considered to be Celtic in origin. The Day of the Dead is rooted in ancient Aztec beliefs but is similar to Halloween in that the end of harvest signified a period when the spirits of the dead were thought to return to earth. Aztecs saw life as only one stage in existence, and they didn't view death with the fear of many European cultures.

They welcomed back their visitors — family members and fallen warriors — with celebration.

The holiday also has roots in Catholicism. Modern Day of the Dead celebrations, which can be several days long, incorporate All Saints Day.

"When Spain came to Mexico, a lot of those Catholic beliefs merged with very old Aztec beliefs, and they come together in Day of the Dead," Lyons said.

Jacobo Aragon, a Spanish teacher at Lexington Catholic High School and a native of Mexico, said dressing in costumes and collecting candy has begun to be practiced in some parts of Mexico for Day of the Dead.

Trick-or-treating "would take place more like where the American culture is more prominent," he said. "But in the rural areas, they do more of the traditional."

In Aragon's home state, Oaxaca, the night of Nov. 1 is traditionally spent in a cemetery. To Americans, that might sound like the result of a frightful dare, but in Mexico it's not such a scary prospect.

"It's another state of mind that's different from us," he said.

The whole community takes part.

"They have mariachi bands. ... They have orchestra performances during the day. They have competitions for the best-decorated tombs or graves. ... They have special food as well. So, Nov. 1, the cemetery is really full of life," Aragon said.

Mexican families traditionally create altars, called ofrendas, to welcome back their visitors. These altars can be placed in homes or public spaces as well as in cemeteries.

Aragon and his wife, Janice, will create a traditional altar to be displayed at the festival. Altars typically contain photos, colorful decoration, food and personal items that represent the work or hobbies of the deceased.

"Say somebody liked to play cards. Well then, you'll put cards in front of their picture. The idea is to lure your loved ones back for the evening," Janice Aragon said.

Festival-goers can view an exhibition of altars at the Old Episcopal Burying Ground. There also will be a community altar, allowing visitors to place their own personal photos or mementos.

Food served will consist of tamales, chicken mole and rice, and Day of the Dead bread — typical holiday fare — and Mexican hot chocolate.

Along with the food and fun, Lyons said, she hopes visitors can walk away from the festival having learned not only about another culture's holiday but its view of death, a subject largely associated in the United States with fear and uncertainty.

"For us, it's like 'ghosts are scary; spirits are scary,'" Lyons said. "For people who celebrate Day of the Dead, it's very positive and joyous."