that little voice

Here it is fall of 2020, and even in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico I can begin to feel the shift away from summer.

The mornings are cooler, the days not quite as warm as they were just weeks ago, and blooming plants aren’t quite as radiant, except for the marigolds.

Marigolds are the October and November flowers of choice as preparations are made for the Day of the Dead celebrations beginning on Oct. 31 and ending on the night of Nov. 2.

When I first arrived in Mexico I wasn’t carried away with the idea of skeletons and skulls, not understanding the special period of All Souls’ Day festivities. Today, these three days of face painting, parades, alters, costumes, and remembrances are my favorites.

When my friend Cathy Horn of Flatonia introduced me to alters for the Day of the Dead, I admittedly was not enamored with the idea. I thought it was nice, but it did not strike a cord in my heart until I had experienced the food, the colors, decorations, and dedication the people of Mexico used to welcome back the spirits of their ancestors each year.

Now, of course, I have an alter (ofrenda) made up of candles, marigolds, pictures, clothing, favorite foods and drinks and mementoes of my loved ones who have left this realm. The honoring is more than a soleum recalling, but rather one filled with joy, happiness, and reverence.

The celebrations begin on the evening of Oct. 31 when children dress up in costumes and parade around the main square (Jardine) asking for treats, much like the Halloween celebrations in the United States. These youngsters will get not only candy but pencils, erasers, sharpeners, booklets, and other useful items not readily available for their school work.

The All Saints’ Day celebrations begin on November 1, the day to remember and honor dead children and infants.

This day is generally referred to as Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels), whose spirits arrive first before the adults the next day because they are quicker on their feet. Festivities are abundant throughout the city and are lighthearted.

Dia de los Difunto (Day of the Dead) is the second day of All Souls’ Day revelries that feature decorated altars filled with the favored marigolds.

As described by some, “the petals of this flower are laid out as walkways for the dead to find their way on earth so they may be reunited with their loved ones.

“The Day of the Dead is a way of maintaining a healthy and intimate relationship with the unknown and is not only an occasion for festivities but also for a profound recollection of those who died and an invitation to reflect on life and death.”

This year this annual multi-day event may be different than in centuries past as the COVID-19 virus ravages the world. But marigold paths and altars in homes and cemeteries will continue to be assembled to welcome back the spirits of loved family members and cherished friends.