A tradition with the dead

The Day of the Dead has always played an essential role in my life growing up. It's a tradition going back many generations, however this year in 2025 is a hard one for me because a year ago I lost my mother due to Pulmonary fibrosis it's a lung disease it hardly has treatment but definitely has no cure however this year I had to put up my mother's photo with my father who also passed away in 2017 due to heart failure.

Every year, my mother and I would set up the traditional altar with photographs of those who have passed away, alongside the photos where we would place food, pastries, and even some of their favorite drinks, such as coffee, beer, or soda. I, on the other hand, would put up pictures of people who are an inspiration to my work. Yes, this would include many members of my family, but also famous people such as Walt Disney, Salvador Dalí, Jorge Luis Borges, and finally Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. I could go on, but that would make for a long blog.

Incredibly, all the altars I would see on the Holiday, but the Day of the Dead, aren't just one day; they are three days, from November 1 to November 3, in Mexico. However, depending on the locality, it is a multi-day holiday. There is so much that is involved, it's a great time to have family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. It is both a happy and a sad time, because we all miss those who have passed away, but as long as we keep their memories alive, they are still with us.

That is why the creation of home altars to remember the dead are build inside the homes, and traditional dishes are made both for the deceased and the living for the Day of the Dead. One person in my family takes the tradition in my opinion to the next level, Meet my nephew Gabriel Ortiz, this kid takes it to a whole new level he works for almost two weeks prepping the Alter.

but he doesn't do it alone he get help from my cousin Roger, Together they build the alter from scratch from the bottom up, even the sugar skulls a traditional treat for the event are made from scratch and hand decorated with colorful candy icing, each skull is decorated with tiny designs of flowers, patterns, and lines, it's an activity that is done with the help of the whole family. I did make an Altar this year, but since I am still grieving, it is rather basic. However, I couldn't be prouder. I even posted it on my Instagram page.

There are many ways to see what the Holiday looks like; one of them is YouTube. Thanks to the internet, we can travel without leaving the couch.

Films: I highly recommend two films. Pixar's Coco (2017)

and 20th Century Studios (2014) The Book of Life.

These two films share many similarities, such as being animated, and they both feature humorous scenes. Both are centered around the theme of the Holiday, the Day of the Dead, but most importantly, they show how important your family history is and how they will always be there to guide you, even if they are on the other side.

But believe it or not, Mexico isn't the only country that celebrates the dead. (To be honest, I thought only Mexico and the USA celebrated the dead.) Other countries around the world have different ways of celebrating and honoring those who are no longer with us. You should absolutely check them out.