Day of the Dead

If you are interested in Mexico’s annual celebration of the Day of the Dead, the article “Dead Again” in Books & Culture, January/February 2007, pages 21-22, reviews the book, Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead by Stanley Brandes. Stanley Brandes is an experienced ethnographer who studied the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico for over a decade.

I found several points interesting:

Even though Mexicans may be macho and act as if death is no big deal, they grieve just like everyone else at the death of a loved one.

Even Mexicans take economic advantage of this annual celebration by selling candy, crafts and other goods during the festival.

“However, something of the sterner Protestant understanding of what it is to be Christian emerges in Brandes' extensive discussion of the dissemination and appropriation of the Day of the Dead in North America, in particular as part of the multicultural agenda promoted in the schools. Whereas religion in schools may be banned as divisive and contrary to the separation of Church and state, "culture" may be promoted as part of a proper acquaintance with other ways of life. The result is the appearance in schools of a cultural mélange offensive to Protestants, and especially to evangelicals who take their religion seriously.”


You can read the article at: http://www.ctlibrary.com/40570