Memorias y Muertos

Using memory as a form of reverence 

By Taylor Holland 

by Rogelio Romo

In a world constantly chasing the next best thing, I like to think the slowness of remembrance can catch and hold our attention. Día de los Muertos is the celebration that takes place from October 28th to November 2nd. Each day is dedicated to welcoming back loved one who have passed. The celebration blends indigenous and Catholic cultures. These celebrations are filled with so much food– my favorite is pan de muerto– calaveras, the figure of La Catrina, marigold flowers, and so much music. This celebration doesn’t focus on the sadness of loss, but on the joy of someone’s life. It calls us to remember how lucky we are to be able to miss someone so deeply.

It means so much to put in the effort to recreate what someone has loved the most in their lifetime. During this time, people make ofrendas, or altars. The most important elements are photos of them, their favorite foods, and small items they loved. Usually, ofrendas are surrounded by beautiful orange marigolds, candles and intricate papel de picado. These objects show loved ones how much you miss them and guide them back to you. The feelings of grief can be so all-encompassing, but the ability to create a beautiful ofrenda to welcome those who’ve passed back doesn’t feel sad at all. I may cry while placing their pictures or making their favorite foods again, but I am so grateful I get to help them on their journey home. 

All of Día de los Muertos is beautiful, but my favorite day has to be November 2nd; it’s the day all of the adults finally come back home. I lost my grandfather a few years back. Each time a big moment passes, I feel further away from him, like I’m turning into someone he wouldn’t recognize anymore. I continuously told myself that before I left my home state for school, I would place flowers over his grave and talk to him, but I never did. I let life's speed take control, focusing only on what would happen next. But now, as Día de los Muertos is approaching again, I’m taking time to remember. I don’t want to forget anymore. I may be 1,131 miles away from my home this Día de los Muertos, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be celebrating the lives that have gone. 

To me, this celebration means more than eating my favorite foods or dressing up as a calavera. It's about taking the time to miss someone. Not just abandoning this grief, but embracing it through celebration. Loss is so hard, but it becomes more manageable when a whole culture is behind you, emphasizing the importance of the life that your loved ones did live. Nobody wants to be forgotten. No one deserves to have their memory or legacy lost to time. Take time to appreciate the memories you've made and the people you've lost. To love someone so fully is to eventually grieve, but this grief is just a love for them in a different form. I can’t wait to welcome the ones I love so much back home; I’ve missed them.