The Day of the Dead is a holiday traditionally observed in Mexico, albeit differently in different parts of the country, that has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly to places where there are communities or individuals of Mexican heritage. It is an important holiday for many as it an opportunity to come together to remember the lives of their loved ones who have passed and recall the memories shared with them. The coming together of family and friends on this holiday is particularly important because it means that this celebration becomes a way to celebrate the lives of those passed with those that we are lucky enough to still have with us while also celebrating the sanctity of both life and death.
Even if you do not celebrate the Day of the Dead, there is a lot we can all learn from this wonderful celebration. The Mexican celebration is an explosion of color and joy in which all who participate are able to feel life’s potential to the fullest in a way that honors precisely what it is the makes life sacred – and that is death. Those who remain on Earth are able to honor and joyfully remember those who have passed through the other side through music and dance and other forms of gaiety.
In this tradition, it is believed that those souls who have passed are able to rejoin their loved ones on earth for this celebration. This serves as a beautiful reminder that those who have come into our lives and left an impact never truly leave us. We were molded by them and their influence in our lives just as they were molded by our influence and by the love we mutually shared with them. Those we share our lives with continue to live on with us in spirit no matter where they might be or where we might find ourselves in our lives. The Day of the Dead teaches us to celebrate life in all its forms and to do so colorfully.
