KFGO Blog

Day of the Dead

By Alicia Underlee Nelson

 Since I have a penchant for skull motifs, sugar and slightly spooky holidays, it should come as no surprise that I’m fascinated with The Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos).

If you’re not familiar with the Mexican and Central American observance, here’s the Cliffs Notes version. First, it’s actually not as creepy as it sounds – it’s meant to be both respectful and fun.  Day of the Dead started with the native people of Mexico and the surrounding region– especially the Aztec people– and their practice of giving honor and respect to the dead, whom they considered to still be very much part of this world. When the European Church arrived, it recognized a powerful ritual when it saw one and wove its own symbolism into the festivities, eventually moving the date to a more auspicious time on the Christian calendar. So now Day of the Dead is observed every November 1^st and 2^nd, in conjunction with All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

Modern Mexican families celebrate with a colorful hodgepodge of traditions, including the creation of elaborate altars for the dead and the preparation of special foods, like pan de muerto – “bread of the dead” – and these really fabulous looking sugar skulls like the ones above. (I admit, this sugar fixation is what initially caught my eye – I’m a person who likes her frosting to crunch when she bites into her cake.) Then they head to the cemetery to clean and maintain the family plot, shower the graves with flowers, tell stories about the people interred there, eat and drink things their loved ones enjoyed when they were alive and just generally hang out and have a good time with the family – both living and dead. Can you imagine Americans celebrating and honoring death with so much…well, life?

If you want to celebrate the holiday in Mexico (as much as a tourist can, anyway), you’re in luck: Mexico is one of the easiest international destinations to reach from the Red River Valley, with a variety of quick, efficient routes and competing airlines adding up to good deals for local travelers. Both farecompare.com and the Fare Tracker feature on bing.com project that fares to Mexico will stay relatively low until midway through November, with even better deals for people with a little flexibility on their departure and arrival dates. Just remember your passport!

If your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, check out these community celebrations closer to home.

Day of the Dead Cultural Traditions – A Community Celebration

Sunday, November 1 , 1pm-4pm

Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County, at the Hjemkomst Center

202 First Ave. S. in Moorhead

hjemkomst-center.com

Bring the family for free food and kid-friendly activities at this community celebration sponsored by Mujeres Unidas (Women United).

 

Also at the Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County…..

 “A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico”

Now through December 30

 This exhibit of 26 photographs – developed by The Field Museum in Chicago – provides an up-close look into traditional Day of the Dead festivities – altars and sugar skulls and all.

 

Day of the Dead Reception

Saturday,  November 7, Noon-3pm

The Plains Art Museum

704 1^st Ave. N. in Fargo

plainsart.org

DJ Chris Molina of Suficiente Sound presides over the turntables at another rollicking reception at the Plains- free admission, punch and hors d’oeuvres for everybody.

 

Also at the Plains Art Museum

 “Latino Artists Create Steamroller Prints”

Now through January 3

 Earlier this month, artists drove a full-sized steam roller over metal plates so big they had to block off a city street. Now the mural sized prints the pressure created are on display. This is a good exhibit to bring “non-arty” people to –  there are a lot of non art-related variables to discuss. And who isn’t curious to see the artistic output of a streamroller? 

What About You?

-Are you going to Mexico or planning on checking out any of these events and exhibits? Let us know what you”re planning and how you liked the Day of the Dead Festivities! (You get extra credit if you send me a sugar skull recipe!)

Want to learn more? Want to talk about it? Listen to 790AM or visit www.kfgo.com.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 3:42 pm and is filed under KFGO. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.