Halloween and Día de los Muertos

Spooky musings: I love Halloween and Día de los Muertos. Just a refresher on both holidays:

Halloween: “The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.” - History.com

“The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.” - History.com

I grew up in New Mexico, where both holidays are celebrated and it wasn’t until I was much older that I learned that Día de los Muertos isn’t celebrated everywhere in the U.S. Two years ago I was in Mexico City during their celebrations and last year I was in Melbourne, Australia, where I sought out the local celebration (which was small but impressive, I must say). This year, I’m back in my hometown.

I love the idea behind Día de los Muertos, that during these two special days loved ones who have passed on can come back to visit the living. With my love of this holiday, I need to be careful about drawing the line between respectful participation and cultural appropriation*. Outsiders to a given culture can get carried away, assume they are welcome to participate in any and all aspects of a holiday, and unintentionally offend members of that culture. 

Learning about cultures different from our own is a wonderful thing and participating in celebrations and festivals is a great way to do that. And while doing so, we need to remember, especially if we are from the dominant culture, to always be respectful. 

Tip: A good rule of thumb is, if you’re unsure whether something might be problematic, just don’t do or say it. If there’s someone trusted in your life who you can ask, you might also reach out to them. And there’s always the internet.

I offer a question to reflect upon: What holidays do you love to celebrate? If they’re from cultures different than yours, how do you celebrate respectfully?

*Cultural Appropriation: "Theft of cultural elements for one’s own use, commodification, or profit — including symbols, art, language, customs, etc. — often without understanding, acknowledgement, or respect for its value in the original culture." - Colours of Resistance Archive