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3 de Noviembre, 2006
El Día de Los Muertos
Categorized under día festivo | Tags: Dia de Los Muertos
LAST NIGHT WE BROUGHT THE DEAD into la casa, and celebrated their lives, their foods, their words, their memory. Papi Felipe, Lucha (nanita), Mamá Juanita, Uncles Chente and Beto; Richie, Randy and a host of other spirits. The house was full! —Of light, and good food, and dulces. We had enchiladas, and baked pan de muerto, and enjoyed our coffee and sangria and music. It was lunita's first Día de Los Muertos, and I'm happy that this tradition will be a part of her life, always. It feels like putting back a block of clay that was stolen from the family home. She will never even remember a time when it was not. Isn't that something? I mean, it is my first one, as well. But while that is important, it is not as important as the fact that I've brought this tradition into my family line. Not to say I didn't have my own fun! Much of my fun is making progress on this journey of reconditioning/unconditioning my societal engagement/identification. Removing holidays, implanted genuflection, colonized mimicry. Adding and keeping that which matters to me. What I really love about so much of Mexico's traditions and customs is that even though they accepted all the Catholic imagery and forced religion of the Conquistadores, they would not give up their indigenous customs. Los Días de Los Muertos is one of these melds. I very much identify with this, as I, myself, am a meld who refuses to yield his history and blood.
We made a few store runs for certain items we didn't have on hand (orange water, halvah for Richie) but of all things, I forgot to pick up white face makeup! I already had black...and my specially-designated Dia de Los Muertos kix on! Ah, damn. No skull face for me. Oh well, next year. You know. I'm always looking for a reason to get in costume!
Hope you had a good time, too.
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kick it, ése.