I am wishing you all happy memories on Día de los Muertos. You may know that this is the Mexican celebration when we remember our friends and loved ones who have passed on. It’s a joyful occasion, nothing grim about it, with the skeleton masks and make up and candy skulls.
In yesterday’s first day school (Quaker Sunday school) the kids and I made an ofrenda. That’s a kind of shrine with pictures of those we want to remember, decorated with “papel picado”, marigolds, candles and offerings of items and food that those we honor enjoyed in life.
The people in the pictures are:
- Bernie (Jack) SoRelle – my dad
- Evelyn SoRelle – my mom
- Peter SoRelle – my brother
- Daniel Butler – a first day school teacher who many of the kids remember
- Margaret Hofmann – one of the founding members of Austin Meeting and tireless fighter for peace.
My parents would be pleased to know they were part of an ofrenda. They loved all things Mexican and introduced me to the joys of Mexican music and culture. Offerings included a tiny guitar for Pete, a banjo for dad, paint brushes for my artist mom. A jalapeño pepper (a favorite of my Dad’s), a sweet bun (pan dulce/concha) to remember the fun times we had visiting panaderías (Mexican bakeries).
Maya, one of the kids in the class, brought her own ofrenda that she made as a school project last year and told us about the relatives and friends that she honored in her ofrenda. We sang a Mexican traditional song and made calavera face masks and marigolds. It was a rare pleasure to commemorate this day with young people,