Come one Come all!
What: All Souls' Procession
When: Friday, 02 November 2007
meet @ 6:00pm
Where: N.E. 11th and Alberta Streets
proceeding West to 32nd
Wear: Black, White and VERY eerie,
Paint your face!
Bring: a wind-proof safety candle;
flowers for shrine or to hand-out;
chimes, bells, drums, zills, sounds to raise the dead;
pictures / memories for shrine;
History:
This ancient holiday began as a day of thanks for the harvest. Over time, it became a time put aside to remember our ancestors and people we love who have died. The Mexican celebration occurs on November 1 (All Saints' Day) and November 2 (All Souls' Day). On the first day, relatives put flowers on graveyards or in vases with cards. Then they create an alter somewhere in the house. The alters that are built as part of the celebration are not places of worship. They serve the same purpose as a scrapbook or a photo album. At the alter, they display pictures of the departed, along with favorite loved objects and other mementoes. Then, they spend the rest of day making food that the dead person or persons loved.
On the second day, families have big celebrations at their homes. They serve the food they made the day before. They eat candies shaped like skeletons. Friends stop by and people dance and sing. This is a very happy holiday.
On the third day, the holiday expands to the town. There may be parades and floats and costumed characters. Coffins are carried that have people in them dressed in skeleton outfits.
Many superstitions have been added over the years, but for the most part, surprisingly, this ancient holiday is as it always was - a time of remembrance and love. So, don't be afraid of the Day of the Dead. This is a happy holiday.