Gas Pains

Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.

Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.

Día de los Muertos

Day of the Dead, Dead People, Día de los Muertos, Family, Holidays, Religion

St. Bernard's reminds everyone of one of the traditions of the Catholic faith - namely the remembrance of the dead this time of year.

The history of this tradition is closely connected to the indigenous people that occupied Mexico long ago.  They observed the month-long pagan ritual celebrating death and rebirth during the ninth month of the Aztec solar calendar.  

In their efforts to convert the native people to Catholicism the Spanish missionaries cleverly moved the scheduling of this event to coincide with All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  This way the ghastly pagan ritual would receive a thoroughly Christian makeover.

Modern day celebrants of  Día de los Muertos engage in unmistakably Christian practices such as leaving a deceased loved one's favorite meal, maybe a bottle of tequila, toys or some other token at the grave site of the departed. Hosting a picnic at the cemetery is popular.  You might also build an alter in your home devoted to those who have gone before.  Sometimes there is revelry which allows the celebrant the opportunity to look death straight in the eye and mock it.

Me?  I'm celebrating with the ladies....

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