Las Calacas, Day of the Dead
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| Sun, 10-29-2006 - 10:33am |
Found these two links, which are interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
http://www.mexonline.com/daydead.htm
The UU church I am attending is having a Las Calacas service today. We are bringing photos of our dead, to celebrate their lives and give thanks and rememberance. I include my animal familiars/companions as well. My dead will get a triple celebration this year, as the Pagan Circle tonight will also honor our dead, and I will do a personal ritual on the actual day for me, October 31st, Samhain.
I have been having a tearful but fond remembering, going through our family photo albums, pulling photos for the rituals above. Even though it's not the 31st, the veil is thinning between this world and that of Spirit, and I felt the loving presence of my ancestors and my animal companions. I miss them so much, yet they are near, always.
Anyone else observing this tradition?
Gypsy

I've heard of Dia de los Muertos, but surprisingly considering the demographics here, I've never seen any sign of its celebration.
Calacas means skeletons. It's interesting to read the mexonline link, because it's not a depressing day at all. A Mexican tradition described is for a family to pack up a picnic lunch and go to the cemetary and sit and visit their dead, and eat.
Skeletons and skulls are part of traditional Halloween decore, as it's the season to honor our dead, so to speak.
As a Wiccan, I also use photos on the altar and set a plate of food on Samhain, Halloween night, for the traveling spirits of the dead. Later I place the plate of food out back under the redwood tree. This year I will also place the little sugar skulls my DD made. :)
Gypsy
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
Skeletons... of course!