Day of the Dead

El Día de los Muertos - Dead Art

I don't do Halloween here at the feedlot. No kid has ever come to my door on All Hallow's Eve, either for trick or for treat. It is enough that I was born during El Día de los Muertos. Having death themed birthdays won't drive you crazy. Just look at me. Or you could ask DadGum, who not only knows me but also has a gun-toting schoolmarm girlfriend born on the same day, different year. She's got her head screwed on straight.

Now that the US is become Norte Mexico, El Día de los Muertos is going mainstream. Lots of places offer traditional decorations and candy, even grotesque greeting cards. Stuff to build the celebratory altars honoring dead friends or relatives. Offerings are made to the dead, but not designed to appease angry dead cats, but gifts to help them enjoy being dead. Tobacco, booze, and cash are popular offerings.

Even the New Age movement has adopted the trappings of El Día de los Muertos. You can build a therapeutic day of the Dead altar and get your dharma tuned up at the same time at this trendy Buddhist retreat.