The Festival of the Dead is a celebration during the month of November that honors our ancestors. Although it is primarily seen as a Mexican holiday, it is also celebrated in many indigenous communities in North, Central and South America, as well as in the Catholic religion and in other cultures and religions around the world.
So, I ask myself, Why is there a celebration like this? and Why do so many cultures honor ancestors?
After researching the different indigenous cultures of the American continent, I found that throughout the month of November they performed ceremonies of gratitude to their ancestors because without them their existence would not have been possible. One of the greatest forces that is present in the life of each person is their ancestors, we are descendants of their sacrifices and efforts. To that extent, the life we lead must be worthy of everything they had to live so that we are here today.
Foto: @garmalack
In addition, the veneration of the ancestors is a way to ask them to send us their strength, knowledge and wisdom to face our current difficulties and live a life of love and harmony.
This idea is not necessarily a religious concept, it is a practice of life. We all have ancestors and when we recognize their history, their effort and keep the worthy respect for them, they wake up those forces that were silenced within ourselves. Our grandparents knew this power, they understood that the ancestors have immense wisdom and knowledge and that we can rescue and use that knowledge. All this information exists at a cellular and spiritual level in each one and to awaken and use this ancestor’s knowledge we need to start with a recognition and respect of them and being proud of them. Then we can access their strength.
