Dia de los Muertos. It's a good tradition....and it's not just the Mexican version of Halloween. Dia de los Muertos acknowledges death as a part of life. It's an annual event where Mexicans and Mexican-Americans celebrate those that have passed away with symbolic alters, funny skeleton figures, special foods, and in some areas a trip to the graveyard for a nightime picnic. It's a healthy way of mourning and coming to grasp with our own mortality. Like most Mexican traditions, its a mix of ancient Aztec culture and Catholic/Spanish traditions.

My uncle, who lives next door to me in my grandparents' house, sets up an alter every year. It has pictures of members of our family who have passed away, yellow marigolds, skeleton figures, candles, and incense. There are also offerings to the dead, pan de los muertos....bread of the dead. According to tradition, on November 1st the souls of children that have passed away come and eat the "spirit of the bread." Then on November 2nd the souls of adults come. My uncle told me last year that he heard voices and noises outside his window last year....said he thinks we had some spirited visitors to the alter.

Why not?