Dia De Los Muertos

Today's Warped site caught my attention because of the title. For a minute, I thought I had deja vu all over again, and there was a new Grateful Dead album. But I was wrong, but the subject matter seemed interesting, so I thought maybe a little trip south of the border would help warm so of us up, given the weather of the past few days.

The name of the site is Dia De Los Muertos, or as translated, Day of the Dead. It is a three day Mexican holiday to honor and celebrate loved ones who have died. More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual they had been practicing at least 3,000 years. It was a ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate. Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend.

The goal of the website is quite simple. Their goal is to educate those seeking information on this celebration through articles, original art, and interactive projects. It is their hope that the downloadable educational packet as well the pages found on the web site to enrich young minds as well as your own. Understanding other cultures that make up our nation is important if we are to have respect for each other. So while it is not Cinco de Mayo, it is still a holiday that can be educate us all. Maybe we can even find time to celebrate Jerry Garcia while we're at it.

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/