Comments on: Day of the Dead http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html News, notes and personal reflection from the Godzwa family during their mission to make disciples in Mexico Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:44:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: disciplemexico.org · A Year in Review http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html/comment-page-1#comment-45367 disciplemexico.org · A Year in Review Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:26:19 +0000 http://disciplemexico.org/wordpress/2006/11/day-of-dead.html#comment-45367 [...] Day of the Dead–Written as a response to a request of an friend, this post is by far our most popular post of [...] [...] Day of the Dead–Written as a response to a request of an friend, this post is by far our most popular post of [...]

]]> By: Trudy http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html/comment-page-1#comment-36401 Trudy Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:52:49 +0000 http://disciplemexico.org/wordpress/2006/11/day-of-dead.html#comment-36401 I have been blessed enough to have witnessed Day of the Dead celebrations in various cities around Mexico. The most elaborate graves that I have seen are in the state of Oaxaca. The celebration lasts a week. It is a beautiful time to be in Mexico and I have even witnessed families who camp out all night in the cemetery with candles lit and meals prepared graveside, in anticipation of welcoming the spirits of their family members on their visits home. Unlike Halloween, in the States, this holiday is reverent and family and community centered. It is a time to share stories, beautify the community, remember the deceased, and to keep love alive. I have been blessed enough to have witnessed Day of the Dead celebrations in various cities around Mexico. The most elaborate graves that I have seen are in the state of Oaxaca. The celebration lasts a week. It is a beautiful time to be in Mexico and I have even witnessed families who camp out all night in the cemetery with candles lit and meals prepared graveside, in anticipation of welcoming the spirits of their family members on their visits home. Unlike Halloween, in the States, this holiday is reverent and family and community centered. It is a time to share stories, beautify the community, remember the deceased, and to keep love alive.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html/comment-page-1#comment-105 Michelle Wed, 08 Nov 2006 05:27:00 +0000 http://disciplemexico.org/wordpress/2006/11/day-of-dead.html#comment-105 this was informative and interesting. Thanks for sharing. this was informative and interesting. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: mikegodz http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html/comment-page-1#comment-104 mikegodz Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:20:00 +0000 http://disciplemexico.org/wordpress/2006/11/day-of-dead.html#comment-104 Dave, We had our own little Day of the Dead altar on campus @ American University. I didn't take a picture (I need to remember I have a camera phone.) but it was erected in the Student Center and was dedicated to Steve Irwin which is a bit surprising since I don't think he has any Latin roots. I guess with 145 nations represented on campus, I should be surprised to get a taste of Mexico. Dave,

We had our own little Day of the Dead altar on campus @ American University. I didn’t take a picture (I need to remember I have a camera phone.) but it was erected in the Student Center and was dedicated to Steve Irwin which is a bit surprising since I don’t think he has any Latin roots.

I guess with 145 nations represented on campus, I should be surprised to get a taste of Mexico.

]]> By: Dave http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html/comment-page-1#comment-103 Dave Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:11:00 +0000 http://disciplemexico.org/wordpress/2006/11/day-of-dead.html#comment-103 Holly, Thanks for your comments. In regards to your question, I guess that my reasoning took a bit of a turn from talking specifically about Day of the Dead to practices to talking about practices associated with Latin American spirituality in general, although it seems to state in the Yahoo article that the Mayan practice of cleaning the bones of their dead relatives has some bearing on their eternal destiny. I simply wanted to make a comparison between the practices that I considered to be in error in this area of the world and the way in which we seem to err in the remembrance of our relatives in the states. Holly,

Thanks for your comments. In regards to your question, I guess that my reasoning took a bit of a turn from talking specifically about Day of the Dead to practices to talking about practices associated with Latin American spirituality in general, although it seems to state in the Yahoo article that the Mayan practice of cleaning the bones of their dead relatives has some bearing on their eternal destiny.

I simply wanted to make a comparison between the practices that I considered to be in error in this area of the world and the way in which we seem to err in the remembrance of our relatives in the states.

]]> By: honhol http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html/comment-page-1#comment-102 honhol Sun, 05 Nov 2006 01:59:00 +0000 http://disciplemexico.org/wordpress/2006/11/day-of-dead.html#comment-102 Sorry for posting again, but I was just rereading you blog and had missed this point where you say, "On one hand, the worship of dead loved ones as a way of receiving favors for ourselves with God or as a way of helping them somehow reach eternal rest are ideas that I reject as being groundless biblically, but the Bible does not consider our loved ones as dead to us." I had never heard that this was about the worship of loved ones or helping them reach eternal rest. In all my little videos I show my students and personal research, I've only heard it being about honoring and remembering the dead loved ones. Is this something somebody there told you or did you read it somewhere? Very interesting! Sorry for posting again, but I was just rereading you blog and had missed this point where you say,
“On one hand, the worship of dead loved ones as a way of receiving favors for ourselves with God or as a way of helping them somehow reach eternal rest are ideas that I reject as being groundless biblically, but the Bible does not consider our loved ones as dead to us.” I had never heard that this was about the worship of loved ones or helping them reach eternal rest. In all my little videos I show my students and personal research, I’ve only heard it being about honoring and remembering the dead loved ones. Is this something somebody there told you or did you read it somewhere? Very interesting!

]]> By: honhol http://www.disciplemexico.org/2006/11/day-of-dead.html/comment-page-1#comment-101 honhol Sun, 05 Nov 2006 01:51:00 +0000 http://disciplemexico.org/wordpress/2006/11/day-of-dead.html#comment-101 Love your post. And I totally respect you not stating your opinion on the matter. I know it's tricky. Honestly, I love the fact that they set aside the day to remember their dead loved ones. I love that they prepare their favorite foods and talk about them and even decorate their graves. Children from a very young age are taught to have fun with the idea of death and to even embrace it. So different from the American culture! Did you know that some people who celebrate this holiday believe the spirits of the dead loved ones come back to celebrate the day with them. They believe the food left on the altars grow stale and the pop goes flat because the spirits have ingested the flavors of the food. Just like every holiday, I suppose you can embrace some of the concepts and leave out others. I told my family that next year I would actually like to celebrate this holiday just so we can take time to remember and talk about our grandparents and parents, cook some of their favorite meals, bring out their favorite gadgets, look at pictures, and just remember them. How nice for the Mexicans that they know they will be remembered and honored each year on that special date. Thanks for your thoughtful and informative post. Love the pictures too! Love your post. And I totally respect you not stating your opinion on the matter. I know it’s tricky. Honestly, I love the fact that they set aside the day to remember their dead loved ones. I love that they prepare their favorite foods and talk about them and even decorate their graves. Children from a very young age are taught to have fun with the idea of death and to even embrace it. So different from the American culture! Did you know that some people who celebrate this holiday believe the spirits of the dead loved ones come back to celebrate the day with them. They believe the food left on the altars grow stale and the pop goes flat because the spirits have ingested the flavors of the food. Just like every holiday, I suppose you can embrace some of the concepts and leave out others. I told my family that next year I would actually like to celebrate this holiday just so we can take time to remember and talk about our grandparents and parents, cook some of their favorite meals, bring out their favorite gadgets, look at pictures, and just remember them. How nice for the Mexicans that they know they will be remembered and honored each year on that special date. Thanks for your thoughtful and informative post. Love the pictures too!

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