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El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday in which people honor the spirits of those who’ve passed. The holiday is actually celebrated on two days: November 1st is Day of the Innocents, when the souls of children are remembered. And the following day, November 2nd, is the one most widely recognized as Day of the Dead.
It’s not a somber holiday – in fact, it’s a colorful and joyous commemoration because indigenous Mexicans don’t believe souls die. Instead, they say our souls leave our bodies and continue living in a sacred space until they return to visit their relatives.
It’s a tradition commonly celebrated all over California, but over on the East Coast – in Northern Virginia – it’s not common at all. That’s where KALW’s Martina Castro grew up, and Day of the Dead is still pretty new for her.
This year, Castro decided to celebrate it for the first time by contributing to an altar at the SOMArts exhibit in San Francisco. She tells us more about how this experience introduced her to both a new holiday, and to many new neighbors, past and present.
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Broadcast History
KALW 91.7FM:
October 31, 2011
Transcript
MARTINA CASTRO: I remember as a child the moment my cousin Lucia told me my parents would die one day. It was Christmas. We must have been five and six years old, and we were playing on the terrace of our grandparents’ farm. I think she got jealous over a gift I had gotten, and thought that was a way to even things out. She said my parents would one day be gone. Forever. And I didn’t totally understand, but I knew enough that I started sobbing uncontrollably.
To this day, I can recall how devastating it felt to imagine losing them, and in a way, I still carry that fear with me.
A few months ago, I had the chance to confront my feelings about death, in a way that an entire culture has dealt with it for countless generations. My good friend, Ytaelena López, a painter, asked me to help her with her Day of the Dead altar. Creating an altar is a chance to remember and celebrate loved ones w...
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