issue 9// vol 47 life & style // no. 15 Aztec holiday following Halloween offers new perspective on death >» A conversation about Dia de Los Muertos CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writer he spookiest time of the year has just passed, and yet zombies, graves, and other deathly ideas still loom in the air. But have you ever thought that our gloomy association with death is simply a cultural construction? Some societies commemorate the loss of life, such as Mexico and their Dia de Los Muertos. To many, death connotes melancholic emotion. We frequently believe that when someone has physically left, it is unlikely that we will ever see them again. Dia de Los Muertos—what many may know as the Day of the Dead—is an Aztec tradition that instead celebrates the time which individuals spent alive. This celebration is still practiced in Mexico to the present day. The Other Press spoke with Mexican-born Luis Fernando Santana Andrade on both this festive night, and the commemorative perspective in passing. Dia de Los Muertos occurs on November 2 each year, and although its date is close to Halloween’s and their themes appear similar—the two holidays contrast greatly. Santana Andrade notes that while Hallow’s Eve focuses on the frightening components of spirits and fictional characters such as Frankenstein, Dia de Los Muertos instead honors and memorializes the spirits. Families do this by embellishing ofrendas (alters) and graves with cempasuchiles (marigolds), dulces (candies), Calaveras (sugar skulls), tequila, pulque, and an assortment of their favorite foods from when they were earth-dwelling. The purpose of decorating the alters and graves this way is to entice the spirits to return to Earth during this evening. It is believed that the returning spirits do eat the food, although the food still physically remains. It is also said that no nutrients within these foods endure the night. Photos of the deceased are placed atop the alters and graves; the paths are outlined by candles and more marigolds. All of this is done to aid in leading the spirit’s way after their long journey from the Aztec afterlife, Mictlan. It is known to be a long trip back to Earth and it is for this reason why sugar water and candies are left out for them to indulge in when they do arrive. Mexico was being colonized by Spaniards by the 1600s, however, Dia de Los Muertos is rooted in the country’s early Aztec roots. With the Spaniards being Christian—a religion whose views of the afterlife differ greatly from those of the Aztecs— components of such has washed over the indigenous celebration. It is this version—a hybrid of Christian and Aztec tradition that people celebrate present day. Fortunately, one thing that has been preserved is their enlightening view on death. Santana Andrade notes that while crosses are used to embellish the alters and prayers are sung, the original essence of Dia de Los Muertos remains. He reminds us that the church has not accepted a heaven that would allow spirits to return to the material world as they are thought to do on this night, demonstrating that the Aztec’s beliefs reign victorious. Andrade explains the differences that he has noticed in the perception of death in those who celebrate Dia de Los Muertos and those who do not. He notes that those who did not grow up in Mexico and have not experienced this tradition first-hand do not like to mention death—Western culture tends to exclusively experience torment and loss when dealing with the notion. He contrasts this view with those who practice Day of the Dead traditions: “Celebrating Dia de Los Muertos shapes the way you perceive death as only another step through existence and not as the end of it.” Halloween’s notions surrounding demise are often associated to fear. The tone of the holiday can easily initiate feelings of gloom, so why not adopt this tradition’s heartening view to veer from the murky emotions that result from the way many of us have been conditioned to perceive loss. Illustration by CJ Sommerfeld How colour shapes our world >» Health benefits of living a colourful life Morgan Hannah associated with femininity and frivolity, Orange Yellow Life & Style Editor which is why it is easy to contrivea picture Orange is comfort. It is a combination The colour of sunshine, yellow is of a girl playing with a Barbie or wearing a of the energy of red and the happiness happiness, warmth, energy, playfulness, Coon is everywhere—from the blue pink skirt, but it might be more difficultto of yellow. Envision a frustrating day at and all-around good vibes. On the other sky up above to the green grass below picture a boy covered head to toe in pink. the office and the pleasure of coming home _ hand, yellow can be an agitating colour for our feet, and everything in between, The nature of pink, however, is toa book and the warm orange glow of a some. everywhere we go and everything we do, shifting—more men wear the colour now. fireplace—or a drink in the magnificence Hospital wards were painted yellow colour is there. It permeates all aspects of Businesses such as Pink in London and of a breathtaking sunset. That is the during World War I to cure shell-shocked our lives and shapes how we see the world. _ the pink polo shirts of Ralph Lauren have energy of orange. Orange is also a colour troops. The mental-state-improving Colour is an essential part of individual made it a rather common colour among of confidence, you don’t wear orange if you —_— properties of yellow have been considered identity and interestingly enough, benefits — men, including musicians Drake and want to blend in. to aid with seasonal affective disorder. our health. Tyler, the Creator. Another tactic for combating seasonal . Green affective disorder is to wear yellow-tinted Pink Purple Different shades of green have different glasses or to try out light therapy. Some shades of the colour pink has been According to NASA, purple was the meanings and effects. A dark green, found to calm those experiencing violent colour of the earliest life forms on Earth, a for example, is thought to represent outbreaks and is often why prisons in purple-pigmented molecule called retinal ambition, greed, and wealth; yellow green the United States and Switzerland used is thought to predate chlorophyll and is associated with sickness and jealousy; to paint their cells pink (although the radiate a hue that can be seen from space. and olive green is peaceful and balancing. validity of the colour calming people’s This information might help scientists and Green is soothing and relaxing and often violent tendencies is still argued). Pink is astrologists find life on other planets. youthful; it is directly related to nature and also at the heart of gender as it is strongly exudes energy and stability.