Family Traditions

Today is a very special day for Maya, and she has been looking forward to it for months. For you see, today is Día de Los Muertos, Day of the Dead. Her family always does a big gathering, so much has to be done before nightfall.

Maya is finally at the age where her mamá and papá, mom and dad, said she could help with getting everything prepared. The problem though is that Maya does not know who she should help. Everything has always looked fun to do. What Maya doesn't know is that her whole family planned and are going to let her help with everything.

Maya quickly heads down to the kitchen once she is ready for the day. Churros con chocolate, fried dough and Mexican Hot Chocolate for dipping, and a glass of milk are sitting at the table where she always sits, waiting for her.

"Maya, you are finally up I see," Maya's mamá says, walking into the kitchen with a basket full of fresh vegetables from their garden.

"I had trouble getting to sleep last night," Maya responds, which causes mamá to move over to her.

"Are you feeling alright?" mamá says, feeling Maya's forehead. "You are not warm."

"I am alright, I mamá. I just couldn't stop thinking about today. I still cannot decide who I want to help. Everything is so fascinating," Maya says, taking her now empty plate and cup to the sink and using her step stool to wash them.

"Well, your papá and I were talking this morning. How would you feel about helping everyone a little today? That way you get to experience it all," mamá says, washing off the vegetables from her basket.

"Can I? Won't I just get in the way?" Maya asks, looking at mamá with a hopeful look. When mamá nods, Maya gives her a big hug. "Who should I help first?"

"Why don't you start in the courtyard?" mamá says, smiling at Maya. Maya returns the smile before heading off to the courtyard. She gets there to find her papá and tío, uncle, setting up the dining table and cleaning up the area to make it easier for dancing later.

"Papá," Maya says, hugging her padre once she has his attention. "Mamá said I should come to help you. What can I do?"

"Can you get the broom and clear away all the dirt and leaves?" papá asked, smiling at Maya while he ruffles her hair.

"We need the path to be nice and clean for when we lay out the petals tonight,". tío says when Maya gets a look of frustration.

"Can't I do something important?" Maya asks, feeling frustrated. She wants to help them get everything ready.

"Maya, that is important," papá says, making Maya pout.

"No, it isn't, papá. That is just chores.

"Maya," tío says, kneeling in front of her. "This is a very important task."

"Why?" Maya asks, looking confused.

"We need the path to be clear for when we lay out the marigold petals," papá says, walking over to where the broom is and grabbing it.

"But why is it so important?" Maya asks, frowning as her dad comes back over.

"Do you know why we spread the petals?" tío asks.

"Yeah. It is to guide the dead home," Maya says, causing papá and tío to laugh at her bluntness.

"Exactly, and if the path is too dirty, they may not see the portals clearly and won't make it home," tío says, which causes Maya to smile.

"Ok, I will do it," Maya says, taking the broom and quickly starting her task. Papá and tío share a laugh before getting back to work themselves.

Once Maya is done making sure the path is clean, papá tells her she should go help her primos, cousins, with making papel picado, paper banners. She finds them in the family room, sitting on the floor around the coffee table.

"Oh, Maya, are you here to help?" Maya's oldest prima asks as she nears the group. "Why don't you sit here with me?"

"What color would you like?" Maya's youngest prima asks, holding up different colored pieces of paper.

"What color should I use?" Maya asks, looking around at her primos.

"You can use whatever color you want. The whole point of papel picado is to liven up the courtyard," Maya's primo says, making Maya frown.

"You mean there is no reason behind making these?" Maya asks, taking a purple piece of paper.

"Today is the day that we celebrate our loved ones, and you can't celebrate without decorations. Can you?" the youngest prima says, smiling at Maya.

"I guess not. How do I do this?" Maya says, looking at the banners that are finished.

"Well, since you aren't old enough yet to use an Exacto knife, you just need to draw up your design. I will cut out all of the designs," the oldest prima says, smiling at Maya. Maya smiles back before starting on her designs.

After she has drawn up five different designs, her oldest prima recommends she go see what her tía, aunt, is doing in her abuela's, grandma's, kitchen. For you see, her family all live in three houses that are located beside each other with the courtyard in the middle of them. Since her mamá is using the kitchen in their home as well as her tía and tío's home, her tía is working in her abuela's kitchen.

The smell coming from the open window of the kitchen has Maya's mouth watering before she gets to the door. She opens the door to see her tía pouring melted chocolate into molds on the kitchen table.

"Oh, Maya, there you are. I was wondering when you would be stopping by," tía says, setting the pot into the sink.

"Hello, tía. I am here to help in any way I can. I am not sure what I can do though. Mamá doesn't like me working with hot pans," Maya says, watching her tía rearrange things on the table.

"I agree with your mamá. You are still a bit too young," tía says, moving some already finished calaveras, sugar skulls, to sit in front of one of the chairs at the table. "I seem to be a bit behind in decorating these. I was hoping you would help me add icing to them. I already have the names on them. They just need some color added."

"I get to decorate the calaveras?" Maya asks, getting excited and sitting down at the table.

"Of course," tía says, ruffling Maya's hair. After tía moves the icing bags closer to Maya, she starts to carefully decorate the skulls.

"Tía, can I ask you a question?" Maya asks as tía cleans up now that all of the calaveras are decorated.

"Of course you can, Maya," tía says, sitting back down next to Maya.

"Why do you make calaveras every year?"

"Well, we decorate a calaveras to represent each of our loved ones who are no longer here. It is a special way to honor them and offer each their own special treat."

"Oh, so it is just for showing our love to each person?"

"Exactly. Now, why don't you go see what your abuela is up to?"

"Ok, thank you, tía."

Maya gives tía a wave as she heads out to find her abuela. She gets to the courtyard and stops as she doesn't know where her abuela is. She looks towards papá, who smiles at her and points towards a special room that is only used once a year. For you see, this room houses the ofrendas, alter. They always keep it clean all year long, but today is when it gets deep clean and decorated.

"Abuela, I am here to help you," Maya says, walking in to see her abuela just standing in front of the ofrendas. "Abuela?"

"Oh, Maya, I didn't hear you come in," abuela says, setting a picture down onto the ofrendas before turning towards Maya.

"Are you ok, Abuela?" Maya asks, walking over to stand next to her abuela. She can now see that the picture was of her abuelo, grandpa. He passed away earlier in the year, so this is the first time his picture will be of the ofrendas.

"I am fine, Maya. I just miss your abuelo," abuela says, laying her hand on Maya's head. "You are here to help me, correct?"

"Yes, abuela," Maya says, looking around at the items already on the ofrendas.

"I have made sure everything is clean already, and the personal items have been added. Now, all we have to do is add the candles and marigolds."

"And the calaveras."

"Your tía will place them once they are completely dry. So, while I place the candles, why don't you place the marigolds. Just make sure to leave the room with each picture for the calaveras."

"Ok, abuela."

Maya and Abuela work around each other carefully to add the last items to the ofrendas. Abuela tells Maya some small tells about some of the different family members as they work, and Maya smiles as she listens. She has always loved listening to abuela tell stories.

As they are finishing up, tía walks in and tells Maya that mamá needs her help. Maya heads towards where her mamá is after hugging abuela.

"There you are, Maya. You are just in time to help me. I am working on making some tamales for a late lunch to tide everyone over until dinner," mamá says, placing a pot down on the table.

"Can I roll them, mamá?" Maya asks, sitting at the table.

"Of course you can."

Maya and mamá make quick work of rolling and tying off the tamales. After they are done, Maya sets the table while mamá fries them.

"What else can I do to help? I've helped everyone but you, mamá," Maya says, watching her mamá fry the tamales.

"You helped me, Maya."

"I helped make lunch, not help with preparing for tonight."

"This is helping me, Maya. I have been cooking since I got up this morning, so helping with lunch is a huge help."

"Is there nothing else I can do?"

"After we have lunch, we are all going to head to watch the parade," mamá says as she sets lunch on the table.

"Oh, ok," Maya says, feeling disappointed.

"Why don't you help your mamá with setting the table this evening?" papá says, walking into the room with everyone else behind him.

"Ok," Maya says.

She did help that night, and she couldn't stop smiling when everyone was praising her for all the help she gave that day.