Day of the Dead

[mattbell]

 On Tuesday, San Francisco had its Day if the Dead celebration, which included a procession and an area of a park with altars to commemorate the dead.  It felt like any other summer festival of lights, except that the focus was on remembering the dead instead of simply having a party.  It was fun, beautiful, and melancholy all at the same time.  I was struck by how well it worked, emotionally speaking. 

I am wondering if there are important cultural consequences that occur as a result of this Mexican festival -- do Mexicans have less fear of death and better integration of death into daily life as a result of having Day of the Dead as a cultural tradition?  I was unable to find any research on this topic (or at least research that didn't require a journal subscription to access).

Perhaps we're more afraid of dying in the US because post death events (funerals, burials, visits to graveyards) are dreary occasions. 

I remember visiting the Protestant Cemetery in Rome years ago, and I found it to my surprise to be full of cats.  The cats were introduced to provide a counterpoint to the stillness and death of the cemetery -- their lightness and playfulness helped make the graveyard a pleasure to visit, not simply a somber occasion.  It reminded visitors not to dwell too much on what is lost but to continue to live in honor of the dead.  You can read more about this cemetery here:  http://www.igattidellapiramide.it/

Comments

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

in the US ... post death events (funerals, burials, visits to graveyards) are dreary occasions.

I really don't think they are. As someone who spends a fair amount of time wandering around cemeteries I think they are beautiful, peaceful, uplifting places. "Well of course you'd say that, plymouth - you're a goth." Sure... but the thing is cemeteries weren't built for goths and they weren't built by goths. They're intended to bring comfort and peace to everyone.

ancestor worship

[aaron f. ross (from livejournal.com)]

El Dia de los Muertos is not really about death, it's about denial of death. An altar to a deceased ancestor is a panacea for the living. "When you die, you don't cease to exist. The righteous live forever at the right hand of Jesus."

Also, the procession and altars have really been co-opted by young white tourists. It's "Night of the Living Gringos" for the Burning Man and bridge-and-tunnel crowds. Fun to watch, but not culturally authentic. To see this in full effect, all you have to do is watch the wry expressions on the faces of recent Latino immigrants.

Some photos here

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=290254&id=656972436&l=3417e0647e

[neph13.livejournal.com]

Our culture's fear of death is an intense study, and one that is getting lots of attention lately. Some of the research I am looking at is based around using psilocybine and DMT to help facilitate the emotional acceptance of death, and helping someone come to terms with the process of letting go. Johns Hopkins research institute is doing studies with it right now with awesome success.

We have midwives for being born, but nothing for leaving this world behind.