Dia de los muertes

Well here is a very interesting custom that Mexicans celebrate each year. This November 1st and 2nd Mexicans come together and celebrate a day called Dia del Muerte (Day of the dead). They decorate their houses and schools with decorations of skeletons and even celebrate with pan de muerte, or Bread of the dead. Even Starbucks in MC even makes a special coffee drink called coffee of the dead. This celebration is a very difficult and complicated day to understand but can be broken down into two basic levels. The first level is that people have the day to remember their lost ones, remembering them by bringing things they liked to their grave sites, talking and singing, partying and celebrating the life they lived. Much like what we do in Canada by bringing flowers or going by "the house that grandpa used to live in," remember his laugh and stories. And then there is the second level that not everyone does but is very real in many of the small towns. They invite the spirits back from the dead to come eat and party with them. Although it is morbid on some levels, I think there is a lot to learn from our Mexican friends for there is great value in remembering our loved ones, perhaps it may even help some of us grieve and mourn in a healthier way. Of course I am not too sure about inviting spirits to eat with us or offering sacrifice to dead family.

I am trying to make a big decision I need to decide wheather I send Julia to school on Friday October 31 and not really know what that day will look like for her, as the teachers have requested a number of things for the offering that day. My heart desperately does not want to offend my new Mexican friends that I am deeply enjoying learning about and discovering more about their very interesting culture. It is not just a holiday that people celebrate but it is part of who they are. I really want to be a person who is open to learning from our new culture. I know that they have a lot to offer us. Please pray that I will have discernment and a sensitive spirit. As a new friend of mine is the administrator of the school pray that this will not affect my new friendship.