Day of the dead
“Remember me.” The line in the animated film “Coco” keeps going through my head these past days. Maybe because it’s the season of All Souls’ and All Saints’ days, or maybe because the song is just catchy. “Coco” made me cry buckets of tears. It talked about the value of family and binding, unconditional love.
The movie was set in Mexico, where they celebrate the Day of the Dead. In costume they dance to festive tunes to remember their departed loved ones. In our setting, it is completely the opposite. We make the season as solemn as possible.
Our family tradition includes going to the cemetery together to light candles on the graves of our dearly departed. My catholic relatives would lead a prayer and we would leave the candles lit. We say our goodbyes to our dead relatives and passed through smoke from burned weeds. With everything happening so fast, I don’t think the tradition goes on this year. But my prayers are with them.
Is there room for tradition to change? Maybe. The police have been very strict to make sure the observance is peaceful. The following are not allowed in cemeteries: sharp objects, liquor, and speakers…even the smallest bluetooth speaker. There is a thin line between celebrating the life of an individual and mourning over one’s loss. But for this season, I guess we can all just pay a visit, leave, then continue the observance at home. The cemetery is no place for people to share a meal, relax, and unwind. Thousands of others also wish to do the same thing. Aside from illness, they are prone to accidents and untoward incidents. The heat of the sun will also be scorching as well, it would be best to keep it at a minimum.
I understand the sentiments of the authorities. Their efforts in planning should not go to waste. We all want the same thing: peace. We cannot achieve this if we breach what is already set. It’s best if traditions such as leaving food, staying overnight, and others, ceased to be practiced in this day and age. There are too many people for such a small space. We cannot risk health and other factors in lieu of keeping customs alive.
The Day of the Dead will be enveloped with spooky stories. Those that tug our mindset and instill fear in us. Let us not confuse these with the true meaning of the season. This is not the time for ghosts and ghouls to appear. More than that, it is remembering those who have passed on. As Monsignor Ruben Labajo of the Cebu Cathedral said: “All dead people are more than souls gone, but saints as well.” We all have a special place in this world and in another dimension that sometimes we have to be keen on what we do every day.
Lastly, we must all be cautious - of our homes as we leave it, of our things as we bring them, and of our family members as we accompany them. Have a fulfilling “Kalagkalag” ahead.