Day of the Dead - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Day of the Dead - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday observed throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. In 2008 the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.[1]

It is particularly celebrated in Mexico where the day is a public holiday. Prior to Spanish colonization in the 16th century, the celebration took place at the beginning of summer. It was moved to October 31, November 1 and November 2 to coincide with the Roman Catholic triduum festival of Allhallowtide: All Hallows' Eve, Hallowmas, and All Souls' Day.[2][3] Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. Visitors also leave possessions of the deceased at the graves.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world, being absorbed within other deep traditions for honoring the dead. It happens to be a holiday that has become a national symbol and as such is taught (for educational purposes) in the nation's schools, but there are many families who are more inclined to celebrate a traditional "All Saints Day" associated with the Catholic Church.

Originally, the Day of the Dead as such was not celebrated in northern Mexico, where it was even unknown until the 20th century; before that the people and the church rejected it in northeastern Mexico because they perceived the day was a result of syncretizing pagan elements with Catholicism. They held the traditional 'All Saints Day' in the same way as other Catholics in the world. This is due to the limited or nonexistent Mesoamerican influence in this region, and the relatively few indigenous inhabitants, compared to other regions of Mexico. In the early 21st century in northern Mexico, Día de Muertos is observed because the Mexican government made it a national holiday by its educational policies from the 1960s and has tried to use it as a unifying national tradition in the north of the country.

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Attended St. Mark United Methodist Church service this morning.  

Also my second time observing St. Mark's Faith Seekers bible study class.  

Weird sitting there listening to these people as the homeless were sleeping in broad daylight just outside the window under blankets; trying to keep warm by the sun.

"God with see them through if they have Christ in their hearts."

~(Sally Foster)~

Did not like how dismissive/unconcerned this woman sounded of these homeless people's plight.

Although a bit cold this morning, as if this sunny morning was made by God just to brighten their day.

Then another confirmation service of children; 

followed by adults remembering the dearly departed.

Something just not right.

Almost as if the need faking, inventing excess misery, alleviating guilt.

"Every man is guilty of all the good  he didn't do."

~(Volaire)~

Of course I did not put money in the offering plate...

again!

Will continue giving my usual twenty dollars to the homeless directly when approached asking for change...

no questions asked.

"How does one sell a drug (John 3:16) to an audience that has already bought it?"

~(Simply Jim:  One Pearl, Total Pig, Anti-Christ)~

 

Not about to support the ministers of St. Mark's Five Headed Learnada Hydra!

Same as Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church;  

all too scripted...

 nothing but living a lie.