El Dia de los Muertos (All Souls Day/Day of the Dead)

El Dia de los Muertos
(Day of the Dead)

El dia de los Muertos is an important religious holiday in Latino countries in Central and South America. Also called All Souls Day, it is an occasion marked by festive rituals to honor the dead. Cemetaries are cleaned and decorated, special dishes and sweets are cooked, and home altars are designed in homage to one’s deceased ancestors. It is a day of joyous remembrance and reverance--not of sadness or fear. The special songs, poems, foods, and toys created for El Dia de los Muertos reflect this outlook.

There is a very personal and informative article in the Austin American-Statesman (Thursday, Food and Life, October 29th) on the significance and practices of this beautiful and healthy ritual.

In accordance with our philosophy, Casa de Luz offers a spiritually and nutritionally healthy alternative to Halloween. This year, instead of succumbing to the the popular culture’s emphasis on fear of death and eating candy, Casa de Luz invites staff and patrons to bring in a photo of your loved relatives and friends to place on the altar in the Dining Room. We encourage all to affirm living the healthy life and spend a moment contemplating the meaning of this beautiful ritual.

Casa de Luz