Feliz día de los muertos

Feliz día de Los Muertos a todo. For those who do not know, Dia de Los Muertos, meaning day of the dead, is a Mexican holiday, celebrated in two days. According to dayofthedead.holiday “Families create offerings to honor their family members that have passed on. The altars are traditionally decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods, and join in the celebrations!” The day of the dead is a unique celebration of the dead because mourning is exchanged for celebration.

This year I was assigned to do an oferendas for Dia de Los Muertos. This was my first time celebrating the day of the dead and making an altar. My mother and sister helped me create a special offering for my family members. I put pictures up of my Great-grandpa, My grandpa (dad’s side), my uncle, and our family dog. We used a Tongan mat and a red tablecloth. We put roses from the garden (It was too last minute to get marigolds), candles, moon water, salt, a mini sound bowl, PH water in a raider shot glass, shells from Hawaii, salt, whiskey for my great-grandpa, sardines for my grandpa, ice cream for my uncle, and a bone for my dog.

Thankful to God for my family, and thankful to my ancestors for this life that they helped to set up for me. I would not be here today without the choices of my ancestors. I am so thankful for family. Family is really everything to me. I feel so very blessed in this life and I know it is because of the way my ancestors before me lived their lives, and what they taught their kids, and grandkids, etc. I know I am divinely guided by my ancestor and because of this, I know what I do here and now will affect my kinfolk.

I hope everyone takes time today and whenever they can to give thanks to their loved ones who passed on, and find ways to celebrate them. The time on this earth is very temporal and for that it is precious! Live a life your ancestors will be proud of, create a life for your future seed to thrive.

Always,

Jeané Tui

Feliz dia de los muertos