Interview by @loretosocorro
The Asocialón United Mexicans It is believedó in May 2023 with the objective de spread la Mexican culture. He realized un Aaltar of the Dead at the Monopol Shopping Center (Las Palmas de GC). It will be there up to andl November 03rd.
We spoke with Lethy Hernandez Carvajal (president of the association), Maria Gwadalupe Judith Gwarrior Garcíand -known as Judith- y Adriana Hernandez E.spinosa on “The Day of the Dead”.
It is a deep-rooted tradition, already celebrated by the Aztecs, to remember those who are no longer with us, and it is very different from what is celebrated in other cultures. What is characteristic is that we remember them with joy and happiness. It is like having a party for the dead who visit us that day.
Day of the Dead, when does it take place?
There are two important dates to keep in mind: November 1st, which is the day dedicated to the souls of girls and boys, and November 2nd, which is the day for the cult of the souls of adults, although in ancient times they began on October 28th.
This celebration, full of details of color, aromas and Mexican flavors, implies that the world of living people and that of their deceased relatives meet once a year, in this memory of the dead and under the protection of large doses of tradition and respect.
The Mexicanos Unidos Association raised the Altar of the Dead to promote this custom that has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
What is an Altar of the Dead?
It is a fundamental element in our culture because it is the place of connection between the deceased and us. It can be made on different levels, up to a maximum of nine. We made it on three levels that symbolize: earth, underworld and heaven. They can also be made taking into account the seven deadly sins or the nine worlds that the dead have to go through.
This altar has many elements. Are they just decoration or do they have a message?
Each element of the Altar is very important and has a meaning. The arch is the door from the underworld to the world. Everything is full of flowers of the dead, the cempasúchil. Very colorful, especially the yellow and orange of the cempasúchil flower (tagete).
Why this flower specifically?
It gives a lot of color and because it was considered a symbol of life and death. Its name means flower with twenty petals. Because of its aroma and color, it is customary to make a path with them to guide souls to the Altar.
I notice that they have many skulls placed...
The skulls, which in Mexico are made of sugar, although they can also be made of other materials, are a reminder that death is with us and will accompany us until the last day. Another element that cannot be missing from the Altar is the Bread of the Dead. This bread was introduced by the Spanish to represent the Eucharist and, like the crosses, they arrived with evangelization and were adopted for the Altar. All of this was fused with our ancestral customs.
He goes on to talk about other elements such as water, to quench the thirst of the deceased who are on their way. Candles are also placed to help the dead find their way in this world, and once lit they stay that way day and night.and surprisesn with the meaning of salt.
Salt is placed on the Altar to help the soul not become corrupted when it is in the world of the living.
We asked about the photos on the Altar and they told us that they were of their loved ones. Is the same done in cemeteries?
It's different there because you already have the tombstone with the person's name on it, so it's customary to go there only to bring food for the deceased, and we stay up all night, talking about things we want to remember about them, what grandma told us, the things they did, what they were like...
Why put food and drinks on the altar?
They are offerings. And they have to be made up of certain elements. On each Altar, the favorite foods and drinks of our deceased so that they can have a day of joy. Water and even alcoholic beverages, if the deceased liked any, or cigarettes if they liked to smoke… Even though they cannot enjoy them physically, because they do not eat them, they absorb the essence of those foods.
What can't be missing among these food offerings?
Mole poblano is a sweet and savory dish where chili peppers are mixed with chocolate. It also contains chicken and is served with rice.
Essential, of course, are the Calaveritas: in ancient times, real skulls were used, which were replaced by others made of sugar, chocolate and amaranth.
The four elements are represented on each Altar with the candles (element fire). Also the water element is incorporated, and ashes or incense are added (element earth). The little papers hanging from the ceiling and around the Altar -which is called "“confetti”- is element air.
The movement of the papel picado represents the wind on the altar and the colours of the papers range from white, which represents the purity of the souls of girls and boys, to black, which symbolises the underworld, or orange, which is for mourning and respect for the dead. It was believed that orange was the only colour that the dead could identify, because it was so striking.
And the incense?
To purify. For example, for people who died in difficult circumstances and we believe they are somewhere else, a cross of ashes is made and this purifies their soul so that they can come and enter.
How long did it take you to make the Altar?
About three weeks, although in Mexico it starts much earlier because it is done in houses and also on graves in the cemetery, in schools, in town halls... anywhere.
Do you know the Canarian tradition of the Finaos?
Of course. And I like roasting chestnuts. Since I arrived, I see that the custom is getting lost and not given the importance it has. It is a very nice tradition and it is part of our culture too, because we live here. Young people do not celebrate the deceased as much as they did years ago. New customs are introduced and there can be confusion. The same happens with the Mexican Catrinas.
What are Catrinas and what happens?
Dressing up as a Catrina is a symbol that tells us that death and life are united. One of our missions is to provide information, so that people know that it is not a costume, but rather it is part of our culture, of respect for our deceased. It is not Halloween. A Catrina symbolizes the sacred. The culture of the Day of the Dead has become very well known and Catrinas and Altars are being used as a commercial claim, without really knowing the meaning.
According to what he tells us, it was José Guadalupe Posada and Diego Rivera who They drew the Catrina Gadvancera and the meaning it has is the remember that al end of our life, tWe're all going to end up being skulls
They drew this at a time when people, even though they were very hungry, dressed very elegantly. And they put on makeup, even if they were skinny, so as not to show how bad they were. “Dry inside but ostentatious on the outside.”
In the Association tThey plan to hold their second Catrina parade on October 31st, at 7 from night, leaving the CC Monopol (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).
The parade is dedicated to the monarch butterfly and has a spiritual meaning. We chose it because during these dates butterflies migrate and arrive at our Mexican sanctuary. The monarch butterfly is the representation of a constant transformation, symbolizing the souls of our loved ones, who return just in time for the Day of the Dead celebrations in our earthly world.
You can go to the parade and bring a little detail that represents the monarch butterfly. Then we will walk around Triana, around Vegueta.
These three women and the rest of the people who are part of the association are proud of their traditions. They know that it is a tradition that is widely accepted and loved by many people.
With all the globalization, Halloween has become very popular, especially in Mexico, which is close to the United States, but we have not lost our essence. Much of it is still preserved and it is because we fight to preserve our traditions. Canarian-Mexican families eat chestnuts and we know why... and we also make the Altar of the Dead with its elements. We hope that everyone venerates their deceased as they have traditionally done, even if new customs arrive, but that they do not lose the local ones.
After these days, the Mexicanos Unidos Association continues to work to support people who dedicate themselves to artistic activities, to expand and promote Mexican culture through art.
