Hey! Elon here. Did you miss me? I turned 3 this year on August 2024. Well, you know, my earthly age.
Today I want to share a very special holiday with you. Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. It’s how people in Mexico celebrate death. This holiday usually runs multiple days across different parts of Mexico starting November 1st. Family and friends get together to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. You know, just like thanksgiving, except you get to do it with those who have died too! All the families gather around, sing, dance, laugh, remember the good old times and all that fun stuff. Isn’t that sooooo cool?!
I know when you think of death, it’s scary, sad, dark and all. But really, it’s not all that bad. Last year, my family took a trip to Mexico, to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos with me and great-grandma. It was the first time they learned that celebrating death can bring as much joy and love as celebrating life. Something they’ve never imagined before.
On Dia de Los Muertos, people make special tables, I think the adults call them “ofrendas”, or altars, with yummy food, drinks, pictures of us that have left this world, and things that we liked. And guess what, for us kids, we get toys too! That’s definitely my favorite part. These tables full of goodies are presented out so that the souls can come to visit and reunite with their families, and feel their love and prayers. You can put these tables at home or in places like schools and libraries, but sometimes people go to the cemetery and put the special tables right by where they’re buried.
Do you know about the flower Marigold? They are one of the stars of the show on Día de Muertos! This is because they’re believed to help guide the souls of the departed back to the world of the living. Their bright, golden-orange color and strong, earthy scent are thought to create a welcoming path for the spirits. Marigold petals are often scattered from the altar to the grave or doorway, creating a trail the souls can follow. In Aztec culture, marigolds symbolized the sun and were associated with life and death, making them perfect for this celebration of remembrance.
Now let me take you to one of the most colorful graves I’ve ever seen. My family came across this grave totally unplanned, saw it on their drive, and made a random stop. I think they were meant to see it. Right before they run into this graveyard, my sister also got some Marigold flower in the local market. See, everything happens in a sequence and there’s a reason for it. You might just not know yet. 🙂
Lastly, here’s me with a table full of yummy food that I couldn’t eat yet when I was still living in my earthly body. But don’t worry, I’ll get to taste them one day, and I’ll let you know what my favorites are. 🙂
Bye for now!
