We are just two days from our Day of the Dead party, and we’re really excited! The forecast is for temperatures in the low 70s and no rain!
For humanists, especially those raised in religious traditions, coming to terms with the finality of death can be challenging. Without prescribed religious rituals, we have the freedom to create our own meaningful ways of honoring those we have lost. One of the beautiful things about humanism is recognizing that rituals and traditions are human creations, shaped by generations of people seeking meaning, comfort, and connection.
This Sunday, we are celebrating the rich Mexican cultural tradition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). We recognize and honor the beliefs and traditions that give this celebration its meaning in Mexican culture, while thoughtfully adapting it to our own humanist worldview. We may not believe the spirits of the dead return to visit us, but we do believe that remembering and celebrating their lives is a beautiful way to keep their influence alive.
We’re going to make it a colorful celebration!
We’ll decorate our gathering space with some of the beautiful symbols of Day of the Dead:
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(Faux) Marigolds: Known as the flowers of the dead, their brilliant colors and distinctive fragrance are traditionally believed to guide the spirits of departed loved ones home.
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Monarch butterflies: Their annual migration to central Mexico coincides with Day of the Dead. In some Mexican traditions, monarchs are associated with the returning souls of ancestors.
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Sugar skulls: These brightly decorated skulls represent the departed and remind us that death is a natural part of life. Their playful appearance reflects the holiday’s wonderful combination of remembrance, humor, and celebration.
And you can get into the spirit, too! Dressing up and face painting are entirely optional, but we’ll have face paint and a volunteer face painter for the kids—and anyone else who wants to join the fun. I’ve even done a test run of sugar skull face painting myself, something I’d never attempted before. As the drag queens would say, its a rough beat, and the face stickers were a bit tricky, but it was fun and I hope my second attempt will be even better! We will be setting up a photo booth so participants can take home captured memories (assuming I can work out all the technical issues).
No party would be complete without festive music, and I’ve prepared a delightfully schizophrenic playlist mixing traditional Mexican music, fun spooky-season-themed pop music, dramatic classical durges, and a sprinkling of funereal Scottish bagpipes (that’s for you Susie ;). If you’ve got tracks you’d like thrown into the mix, comment on Meetup.
We’ll also be making memorials to honor our loved ones. Bring photographs or other meaningful items, and we’ll have supplies available to help you create and decorate a memorial. You’re equally welcome to make something ahead of time and bring it to share. We’ll provide crafting materials, but contributions are welcome—extra scissors would be particularly helpful!
And, of course, it’s a potluck! We always have plenty of food, so please don’t hesitate to come empty-handed. Everyone is welcome, whether or not they bring a dish. But if you’d like to contribute, we especially encourage you to bring something connected to a loved one you’re remembering. Maybe it’s your grandmother’s favorite casserole, your father’s famous chili, or a dessert that brings back happy memories. Food is a wonderful way to share a little piece of someone’s life.
Most importantly, we expect this to be an afternoon of fun, remembrance, storytelling, and connection.
Sunday, November 1, at 2:00 p.m.
Honeycup Picnic Shelter, Pine Trace Park, Ladson
Come celebrate life, love, and memory with your SHL community!