Día De Los Muertos

This Monday was a very special holiday in Guatemala, a day when families gather joyously to remember those who have died.  There has been a lot of preparation all week as vendors sold fresh flowers and paper wreaths to be used to decorate the cemetery.  Around 4 or 5 a.m. on Monday morning, the townspeople gathered at the cemetery to decorate the tombs that their families have been using for many generations.  The tombs varied based on the wealth and status of the families, ranging from the large mausoleums along the main road to simple square cement blocks to simple mounds of dirt on the ground.  Every year the families prepare for the holy day by repainting the cement tombs in different bright colors and then decorating them with flowers, pine needles, and paper wreaths.  

           

            Once the families have gathered at the cemetery, they are prepared to spend the entire day there.  Many families bring enough food to last for the whole day, such as a large pot of ceviche or a basket of tostadas.  For those who do not bring food, a lot of vendors set up just outside the gates or even walk around with large pots of food to sell to the families as they sit all day.  There was a mass held in the center of the cemetery from 1o to noon that many people left the tombs to attend, but other than that, most people enjoyed the company of the people at neighboring tombs all day. 

            Another beautiful tradition that is celebrated on this day is the flying of colorful paper kites by the children.  As I walked through the cemetery, I could see kids standing on top of tombs flying kites high in the air.  Some were as large as twenty feet across.  Overall, the day felt very joyous and celebratory, rather than solemn and sad.  The colors were all very bright, and the people chatted happily as they sat on top of the tombs.  Children ran around playing, hopping from burial mound to burial mound and climbing on the larger tombs without being told to act more respectfully or be quiet.  It was a very interesting way to celebrate the day—the cemetery turned into a virtual playground and joyful gathering place for the entire day.