The Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico, “became internationally renowned in the twentieth century.”(Marchi, M.Regina) This celebration focuses on the afterlife of our dearly departed loved ones.

Many scholars agree that several other Latin American countries claim the observance of this celebration as their own as well, each having their own unique variations of the reveranced ritual.

Other countries that celebrate a very similar celebration of the day of the dead, with cultural festivities to honor their dead loved ones are:

• Ecuador
• Bolivia
• Nicaragua
• Honduras
• Argentina
• Guatemala
• Panama

It is believed that many influences have contributed to this special celebration.

The Aztec, Mayan, and other Indigenous traditions formerly held festivities in remembrance of their dead 3,000 years ago.

Modern day Mexican Americans (Chicanos) are the largest Latino group in the United States and make up 60% of the United States Latino population.

Therefore it’s no surprise that Chicanos have adopted their own adaptation of this ritual and magnified this observance with mass media.

This is still largely controversial, some believe the “commodification of the Day of the Dead helps promote community culture, while others believe it is exploitative and corrupting.”

So this celebration has many various aspects and has evolved into a new cultural experience for Chicanos in the United States.

In Mexico the observance is a family and religious ritual carried out in private homes and family gravesites, whereas, in the United States, the observance is held in; art galleries, schools, libraries, museums, community centers, and municipal institutions.

Basically, in Mexico, they hold more traditional and reverence type ceremonies, and in the U.S. more socio-political and culturally influental type ceremonies are conducted.

In Mexico the family of the deceased

• Clean up their family grave sites. Paint and refurbish the headstones and crosses.
• Construct shrines for their deceased relatives in their homes.
• Decorate the graves with: flowers, wreaths, candles, toy figurines, skulls, and more.
• Prepare their deceased loved ones favorite foods to bring as ofrendas(offerings) to the altar.
• Hold special vigils, prayers, singing, and dancing.

Chicanos have adopted their own way of observing this special reverance and remebrance to our dead. The alters in the United States are as diverse as the event itself.

Chicanos have “radicalized” this traditionally religious ceremony into more of a media ritual used to educate the masses about our cultural identity and to elevate our community’s political expressions.

Chicano artists are the first to “popularize” the celebration in the United States and to, “provide an artistic and ritual framework for others to participate in the celebration.”

Chicanos used both Roman Catholic and Mesoamerican Indigenous symbols to express community identity and express solidarity with other diverse Mexicans, and Chicanos (Mexican Americans).

The U.S. alters frequently honor deceased cultural icons such as Tejana Pop Singer Selena Q. Perez, and many other writers, musicians, artists, filmmakers, actors, political activists, and others are commemorated as the collective ancestors of U.S. Latinos.

Day of the Dead celebrations in the United States reinforce:

• The complicated intersections of cultural identity.
• Political economy
• The mass media
• Consumer culture

These Chicano-style celebrations consist of:

• Art exhibits
• Community altars
• Colorful banners
• Craft workshops
• Street processions
• Streetlight decorations
• Sidewalk art
• Fluorescenf lights
• Arches of flowers
• Poetry slams
• Film screenings
• Performance art
• Other PUBLIC EVENTS

These cultural events draw attention to sociopolitical deaths such as; police brutality, unsafe labor conditions, or dangerous border crossings of brown people. They “invoke a moral economy” form of SOCIAL PROTEST.

Dia de los Muertos in the U.S. has created a media platform to transmit political messages across pulpits of radio, television, film, internet, literature, magazines, and more. Thus aiding in educating the public about this very ancient cultural and relevant event.

“Given that Latinos have historically been underrepresented in the U.S. News and advertising, and negatively portrayed in television and film, media coverage of Day of the Dead is an important form of mainstream visibilty.”

One article states that, “While many contemporary Mexican Americans are familiar with El Dia De Los Muertos, many others have only recently begun to learn about it and others know nothing about it.”

This is true for me personally . I have only had a vague idea and understanding of this cultural observance for years, up until two years ago.

Since I lost my papi in 2016, and that hurt me so much, I wanted to know more about this peculiar little celebration. I mean I’ve always been a little odd anyway just in general, because I’m a little morbid and often think about death. But I just thought it was a weird Deanna thing. I guess it turns out to be a normal Mexican thing.😁

Last year I did create my own little version of an altar to honor my papi. Obviously I didn’t know much about it and so hopefully papi was proud of my effort. I learned that I didn’t have all three tiers to an altar, I was missing the Day of the Dead flower, and lots of other things. But I tried! And ultimately I was pleased.

I’ve since learned more about this special Day of the Dead celebration. And I’m sure there is still so much that I don’t know. All I can do, is continue to learn more.

And this year I am here with my family in my hometown during Dia De Los Muertos. It’s a little more special because I get to go with my family to decorate my papi’s grave. And create a shrine in our home.

So hopefully today I’ve taught you a little more about that peculiar little celebration known as DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, DAY OF THE DEAD.

Works Cited:

Marchi, M. Regina, Day of the Dead in the USA: The Migration and Transformation of a Cultural Phenomenon, Rutgers University Press, 2009.

Photo Credit: Unsplash.Valeria Almaraz

Photo Credit: Deanna G. Montalvo photos

“A Hollywood actress once had an hourglass figure, but the sands of time have shifted.”

The other night I had my first experience with weight watchers.

No, not that kind of weight watchers! Not the program and company, Weight Watchers. But another type of weight WATCHERS! 👀

More specifically, people who feel the need to point out the obvious about another person’s weight.

I don’t think I have ever posted a “venting” blog before, but there’s a first time for everything. And if I have, MY BAD, I forgot about it.

Anyway, the other night I got told that I’m too big for my height. 😏 Whooptee Effing (explicit language) Doo!

That particular night was also my baby sister’s 21st birthday, so I prepared a very special dinner for her.

Some friends of our parents were visiting, and so of course we invited them to stay and dine with us, in our little celebration.

After the delightful dinner that I laboriously and lovingly catered to my sister and family, we all sat around having small talk.

I find it rather rude for a guest to just blatantly tell me that I’m too fat for my height.

The sad thing is that this isn’t really the first time this person has said something like this. A few years ago, this “said” person, once told me I was too young, NOT TO HAVE A SEXIER FIGURE.

Gee thanks! Because my life’s desire is to impress you with my looks. Are you seriously that vain?

Whatever!

Thank God, I don’t rely on my looks to carry me. People would be very disappointed with my everyday look.

I mainly get dressed up for special events, or with my sister’s when we have amauter makeovers, and for photographs, and that’s about it.

Every now and then I feel girly and want to get dolled up. But it’s not like a priority for me to glam myself up.

Disappointingly, I’ve had a few other random people make comments about my weight or body image, over the years. Including family members.

The part that disturbs me is that it’s mostly men. (Not all men obviously)

What makes people so bold to think it’s appropriate to make such asinine remarks? I’ll never know. And as men, why do you worry so much about what a woman looks like on the outside, when clearly you don’t have it all together in the mind? I’m just saying!

Shouldn’t you just worry about your own body? As a matter of fact, it’s kind of creepy when an old man such as yourself thinks my body image is an appropriate topic up for discussing.

I don’t need to explain myself to you mister! My body is MY temple. And I am the only one responsible for it.

I’m not competing against any man or woman. Nor do I worry about what the next person is doing. I’m forging my own path. And what I do, or don’t do with my body, is nobody’s damn business! Simple as that!

But out of respect for my family, I remained nonchalant about the incident, and figured I’d much rather write about it, than to be confrontational with our guests.

Here are some things I have really actually been told, TO MY FACE, in my last 20 years of life concerning my looks, weight, and body image;

• “During your pregnancy, you looked like fat bastard!”(A character in the movie AustinPowers.)A random U.S. Navy serviceman
• “Are you pregnant?” Random and complete strangers
• “Fat Heifer!” Family
• “Fat bitch!” Angry disgruntled ex employee/subordinate
• “Boney Ass!” Ex boyfriend, USN
• “Fat Ass!” Ex
• “Ugly Ass!” Ex
• “Mija you look like a Coca-Cola bottle.” My grandma told me this in my younger days. Now days though I’m more of a 2 liter Coca-Cola bottle. 😜
• “You’re getting fat!”, “You’re gaining weight!” Many family members

I’m sure there’s more. But you get the idea.

What are some of the rudest remarks people have made about your body image? And how do you handle the insulting ones? What would you do if someone body shamed you?

Let me know at:

candidchicana@gmail.com

“Most mothers aren’t really interested in taking their weight off-they just want to rearrange it.”

Quotes Taken From:

McKenzie, E.C. 14,000 Quips & Quotes for Writers & Speakers 1980.