Try this at home: Take time to reflect on those we lost this year
Every year at this time, we have Halloween parties and Day of the Dead festivities. Longmont Museum puts on the biggest celebration of this holiday in the entire state.
At it's root, the essence of this holiday is exactly the same as the Celtic holiday of Samhain which is the origin of our American Halloween traditions.
In both traditions, we are taking time to remember the people we knew who crossed the veil into the next realm this year. We tell stories, sing songs, share remembrances about why they were an important part of our life and what we learned from them.
If we set up a table to honor our dead, common elements are to have a photo of the person and some of their favorite things on them. This is to wish them well on their journey into the next world and send them off with one last taste of their favorite things along with our expressions of gratitude and appreciation. The Mexican tradition calls this an offrenda (offering). The Irish call it the Dumb Supper (dumb from the old fashioned word for a person who can't speak). How mystical and magical is that?
Yes, these are ancient pagan traditions which were so entrenched that the Catholic church overlaid another layer on meaning onto these days and named them All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Once again, the essence of the holiday is there, with different trappings.
Other cultures around the world have holidays to remember their dead, but interestingly, the Aztecs and the Irish, who had no ancient history of trade or engagement between them, both selected the same day of the year to celebrate the same ritual.
So let us say that you do not celebrate either of these two traditions. We can strip it down to its essence and get the real value. Your table at home does not have to be big and elaborate. It can be small and simple.
Consider the value of taking time to remember those we know who died this year and doing a little ritual to thank them for what they brought to our life. The ritual could be as simple as looking at some old photos, telling stories and perhaps sharing a meal that they used to enjoy. This ritual can be done no matter what kind of religious or spiritual beliefs you have. We are simply digesting an important life lesson here.
Due to the pandemic, many of us know someone who died in the last few years. Your ritual can also include those who died in previous years if you have not acknowledged them in this way before, and you may want to revisit some. After all, don't we all come to new realizations and insights as we grow? New understandings and appreciation for the parts others have played in our life.
This ritual is always an important feature in my holiday. Yes, it is one of the biggest party times of the year, with costumes, food, drink, treats and festivities. And at the root of it all is a deep spiritual tradition. Insights from this ritual can shed valuable light on our path.
Consider this. Even our cave man and cave woman ancestors had funeral traditions which tells us that even those ancient, illiterate ancestors recognized that there is something more to us than a body, and even back then, they acknowledged the spiritual journey we are all on. Our ancestors learned this without any guide books. Think for a moment about what that tells us about evolution.
I would be interested in hearing anything you wish to share about your traditions and rituals.
For more information, you can visit the museum's web page. Here are days & times for their exhibit.
Date: October 8th - November 6th, 2022
Hours: Monday - Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 - 5, and Thursday evenings 5 - 9 pm
The image above is from the NPR (National Public Radio) website.
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