What's in this edition
Online Lesson, Cocina Cooking, Culture Clips, Language Link's Latest, OJO (real deals), Rhythm & Book Blurbs, Been There, Loved That (reports from participants), Likeable Links

Online Lesson

Day of the Dead Makes Language Alive
       Although I have been in Mexico various times to observe Day of the Dead festivities, this year I’m going close to home.  Quite near where I live in Cuernavaca there is a small village called Ocotepec.  It’s a town of furniture makers, and the desk in the Mexico Language Link office came from here.  But tonight is a unique event.  Joining in with a group of students from the Spanish Language Institute, I have been invited to specifically enter three houses in which deaths have occurred in the past year.  As we gather in the churchyard of a 16th century church, mellowed by time and weather, the anticipation is high.  The night is November 1, and already we realize that it’s nothing at all like Halloween celebrations.  We’re all so anxious to be respectful of the families we will visit, realizing the great honor of being invited by the family’s relatives.  We are one group of hundreds. 
      Along the church walks there are trails of marigold petals, as it is believed that these flowers, representing the sun, will illuminate the path for the spirits of the dead in their return.  Everyone is talking about the cempazúchitl (the marigold).  It’s an ancient word from the pre-Spanish language.  Since it’s not an easy word to remember, I have struggled in pulling it out of my head on several occasions.  But tonight it permanently remains in my head and flows effortlessly.  The experience makes me quite aware of how much easier it is to learn a language through cultural connections.  This is one of the basic premises of Language Link, and it is thrilling to me to have it reinforced so strongly through this evening’s events.  My vocabulary will be greatly enriched, and I will hear so much repetition of key words in Spanish that they will be mine forever.
      In preparation for our visits we all have decorated tall, thick white candles with purple ribbons.  This is the appropriate color for mature deaths.  If we were visiting homes where a child had died, the ribbon would be light blue.  As we walk toward the indicated houses, we pass along a street filled with vendors of objects specifically for this night.  People are briskly purchasing even more velas or candles, as well as the traditional pan de muertos with a bone design of dough. 
     As we enter the very modest house of the family of the deceased, we present our candles to the family.  In the living room is the ofrenda, the altar constructed in honor of this family’s loved one.  It would be difficult not to be impressed by the care, time and creative thought which it represents.  There is a tall wide table, draped in cloth.  On it is a representation of the body of the muerto.  There is a life sized sugar skull, in this case topped by a jaunty hat.  In front of the skull is an image of him.  Then stretched out and padded is a full suit of clothes, with shoes at the end.  Surrounding the body are candles and many flowers, including the cempazúchitl and a red cockscomb called terciopelo (velvet).  At the foot of the “body” is a large assortment of food and drinks.  I note that Victoria was this man’s favorite brand of cerveza, and it is generously represented.  There is fruit and prepared dishes in generous supply.  We are told that the weight of this food will be reduced after tonight, as the spirit of the deceased has consumed the essence of these, his favorite things. 
     After viewing the ofrenda we pass to another room of the house.  Here we are offered either coffee or hot ponche, even laced with brandy if we choose so.  Another family member offers us warm tamales.  I am reminded that Mexicans describe one of these as just a tamal, as tamales is considered the plural form.  One of the teachers of the school points out that the tamal represents the body (the meat) enclosed in a tomb (the corn masa). 
     As we pass through the streets to the next houses, I am struck by several things.  One is the expense this event represents to these humble families.  It is said that they often will put out up to two month’s salary in preparation.  Just the cost of the tamales and drinks would be high.  And in one of the houses where the deceased person was a woman, I was quite taken by the rhinestone encrusted sandals which were at the foot of her “body””.  In the last house there is a shiny brass trumpet, as the muerto was part of an instrumental group, and this was an important part of his life.  In fact, there is even a live group playing in the courtyard of this house.  It seems that each house’s altar is more elaborate and beautiful than the last.
      I return home with a head full of images of Mexican creativity and appreciation for how Mexicans honor their dead in joyful ceremonies with ancient origins.  Also, my vocabulary of the event is completely reinforced.  What a fascinating and successful way to learn!