Dia de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead which has its roots in the Aztec and indigenous cultures of Mexico, is celebrated in Mexico and in Latino communities across North America on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, coinciding with the Roman Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

On Día de los Muertos, people remember and honor their deceased loved ones by preparing altars for them and decorating the altars with food and valued possessions of the departed. The focus is more on the celebration of the lives of the departed loved ones rather than on their death.

There is a Mexican saying that we die three deaths: the first when our bodies die, the second when our bodies are lowered into the earth out of sight, and the third when our loved ones forget us.

I'd like to use today as a reminder to slow down, remember, and be blessed for all those who are waiting for me on the other side.