I'm watching this slowly become a thing not unlike Cinco de Mayo became a thing beginning in the 1960s (not a party just a vey small and minor (read: easy) victory over the French.

I begin to wonder, will Americans party till they puke, as we typically use to justify a celebration, or will we likewise use the day to remember those who have passed before us?

I've never met anyone who wasn't Hispanic that cared about it beyond the party aspect.

And what in the world is wrong with parties? Nothing, that's what.

Although I have not used this recipe I bake Pan de Muerto, Bread of the Dead, this time of the year as a personal tradition.

https://www.mexicoinmykitchen....xican-bread-of-dead/

I suspect it's been a while since any of us honkies honestly thought about All Souls' Day at all.

Day of the Dead popularity has come in two flavors:

1) You are or, live-in, a large Mexican community and thus it's celebrated as a cultural event.

2) You've found another excuse to have a party & dress-up or, you're virtue signaling that you're 'culturally diverse and aware'.

Movies like James Bond's latest Spectre and Pixar's Coco has featured DiosDia de los Muertos celebrations as a major plot line has helped move it into mainstream. The artistic side is also hugely celebrated, as face painting or calaveras make-up makes it pretty unique. I do have Mexican friends that, while they do celebrate it, also recognized it's a double-edged sword: they appreciate the recognition and people willing to be apart of the festivities but, are also turned-off by the commercialization and crass marketing that's evolved from it. Chinese New Year and St.Patrick's Day celebrations deal with the same issues between a cultural celebration to a highly marketed event.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: corsair,

It’s the participants who make any holiday a commercial event. People whine about Christmas-related sales, decorations, music, etc., appearing immediately after (or even before) Thanksgiving, but it’s because consumers respond to those commercial efforts that make those efforts worthwhile and profitable for businesses. The same is true of anything else, and it’s pretty dam’ simple: Don’t like the fact that any other event is “commercialized”? Then don’t buy the commercial stuff.

Corsair, “Dios” means God

The Day of the Dead with Stephanie Sigman the FAB Defense KPOS Glock to Carbine Conversion in the hands of Bond, James Bond in SPECTRE.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Corsair, “Dios” means God

Thanks for catching that, either autocorrect kicked-in or, I blindly typed that in.

It is a BIG deal in Mexico.
Not so much here.

I remember as a kid, if we happened to be in Mexico at the time, the whole family would go to the cemetery and it would be an all day event starting at 4am.
Grandma would get up and expect all the female members of the family to be up and ready to put in work.

The favorite foods and drink of the dearly departed was prepared and packed up.
There was bus service almost non-stop to all the graveyards.

It was almost like a carnival as there were food vendors of all kinds set up on the perimeter, musicians could be hired, flowers delivered and all sorts of candy.

I remember going on at least 3 occasions.

This was back in the 70's.

quote:

Originally posted by dogrobber13:
It is a BIG deal in Mexico.
Not so much here.

I remember as a kid, if we happened to be in Mexico at the time, the whole family would go to the cemetery and it would be an all day event starting at 4am.
Grandma would get up and expect all the female members of the family to be up and ready to put in work.

The favorite foods and drink of the dearly departed was prepared and packed up.
There was bus service almost non-stop to all the graveyards.

It was almost like a carnival as there were food vendors of all kinds set up on the perimeter, musicians could be hired, flowers delivered and all sorts of candy.

I remember going on at least 3 occasions.

This was back in the 70's.

Chinese culture, has a similar event called Qingming, similarly, it's honoring the ancestors, bringing food offerings and cleaning their final resting place. Buses and long lines of cars would go to the cemeteries at the beginning of April, you see this more in the Western states where there's a larger Asian populations.

So this isn't an Election Day thread?

Looks like fun, I wouldn't mind attending a party if I was in a country that celebrates it. Is that bond scene what it actually looks like?

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Corsair, “Dios” means God

What? You never heard of God of the Dead?

quote:

So this isn't an Election Day thread?

ISWYDT.

Check Day of the Dead skydiving