For most of us, the second day of November is, among other days, an ordinary day of the year. For Mexican people though, it is anything but an ordinary day. It is known as “Dia de losMuertos” or Day of the Dead. As expected from just its name, someone could assume that it’s about something sad and macabre, since it includes the notion of the end of life. Reality, however, is far from that.
That is the day when all of Mexico celebrates. Private shrines are set up all over the place, the so-called “ofrendas”, on which photographs of diseased relatives are decorated with orange flowers and are half-lit all night by the candles.Mexicans wear imaginative costumes, according to the theme, they eat, drink, dance and even compose poems by way of funeral. Those poems which are called “calaverasliterarias” in Spanish (freely translated as literature of skulls), despite having death as their main theme, choose to present it with irony and humor, while making fun of and defying it. And this leads to the culmination of the celebration, which everyone awaits with great anticipation and joy. They await the return of their dead relatives for that night only, so that the whole family reunites, showing that their love beats even death.
All of the above, is on its own right a particularly interesting source of culture and religion, but conceal a deeper meaning. Through this celebration, Mexicans choose to face the end of human life alternatively. Instead of fearing and ignoring death by pretending that it doesn’t exist, they consciously face it eye to eye, mock it and make a celebration out of it. They are not scaredof the thought that their life has an expiration date and that’s why they are not afraid to live it, no matter how many smaller ends appear throughout its duration.
So let’s wonder… How many times have we let the fear of a possible ending cast its shadow over the light of the moment we live in?How many times have we been trapped in our pessimism, while in reality a new vivid world was waiting to unfold right in front of us? Nonetheless, how differently would we live our every day, if we revoked the negative and bitter hue which rules over the notion of the endin every aspect? If we ceased to realize it as an irrevocable ultimatum which stops any course we’re heading towards, and started to deal with it as a compass which redirects us towards a different course?
After all, a more objective definition of it might be that of bittersweet. It may sometimes embody a much-desired redemption, while, at other times, it is part of a sadder story. But almost always, inside of it there is hidden a change and transition to a better state of things. So, if Mexicans can deal with a bigger end, this of life, with excessive festivity and courage, each one of us is strong enough to overcome any of the smaller ends which may come in our way. No matter how bitter they may be, let’s not be afraid. But in contrast, let’s face them with courage and optimism. And then the light of a new beginning will slowly appear, illuminating the steps of our new course. This time let’s promise ourselves not to be afraid, but to enjoy it no matter how it ends.
Translation: Miltos Bizios
Review: Niki Saridaki
