Getting down on All Souls' Day

My friends Lin and Richard held a Day of the Dead party last Friday (All Souls' Day--or as my Latin-loving mind likes to think "pro animabus omnium fidelium defunctorum"). I took this photo of the ofrenda early on, before the house filled with a wonderful and eclectic group of interesting people. Some folks, at one point, shared stories about those whose photos they brought. Delightful, moving tales. Lots of good food and drink, of course.

One highlight was when a figure came clomping up the stairs. Long black overcoat, a death's head and shawl--our mortality come to visit and remind us, no doubt. Death embraced one of our hosts, then went back down the stairs again.

It was our parish priest. I noted that we are all canonically required to remind parishioners annually to make their wills, but this seemed a bit dramatic.

Just wanted to share a pic of the great ofrenda. Click the photo to enlarge for details.
--the DD

Mi ofrendita

This year my ofrenda for the Day of the Dead was in my cubicle at work. Since so many folks put up sundry seasonal decorations and secular Hallowe'en stuff was all over the place, this seemed reasonable. One co-worker even added a photo of her parents for this remembrance, invitation, celebration.

As you can see, especially if you click the photo to enlarge, there were icons of César Chávez, Oscar Romero, Mohandas Gandhi, and the Resurrection (along with my usual ones of John Maximovich II and the Compassion Mandala). My parents can be seen leaning against Romero. Other family members are there and friends from St Cuthbert's whom I have fed with Christ's Body and Blood, anointed, loved, and in some cases buried. In the middle is Kazan, the most beloved of all our family's dogs. He is very special to me and I look forward to seeing him at the gate of heaven. St Peter can take the day off; Kazan will greet me and we will roll around on the ground and romp together again.
--the BB

To provide a little balance

First, Artemis of Ephesus for my friends who may be tiring of princes and male singers here.

Secondly, after my late night rant it is time for a more positive note. Today I assembled a mini-ofrenda at work for el Día de los Muertos. A hand-woven runner, several icons (Oscar Romero, Gandhi, César Chávez, the Anastasis), sixteen photos of family and friends, and flowers picked fresh from my garden, including two very small dwarf marigolds. At least they were marigolds or sempasúchil, the Aztec flower of the dead whose fragrance guides our loved ones to visit us at this thin time of the year. Also a couple of unlit votive candles. Not gonna raise hackles over fire risk, but the symbol is present at least.

One of my co-workers had a photo of her parents that she added. A gracious and touching action.

May those you love on either side of the veil be near and be well.

Blessed Samhain to all our Wiccan friends!

I have no truck with satanists and those who worship power no matter what they call themselves [none of which should ever be confused with Wicca] but this is a pagan-friendly site.

Peace be to all.
--the BB