by Jane St. Clair

The Day of the Dead — or Dia de Muertos, as we call it in Tucson– comes after Halloween, but it’s even spookier. Every year hundreds of people gather downtown at night for the very very spooky All Souls Procession.

Skeletons rise out of their graves– and they walk around, looking much the worse for wear. On the Day of the Dead, they eat and play cards …

They dance —

And some even play in orchestras

While I always liked the kiddie party trick-or-treat spirit of Halloween, the grotesque images of the Day of the Dead used to creep me out. I mean… SKELETONS! And GHOSTS!

Then a friend who grew up in Mexico took the time to explain Dia de Muertos to me. When someone we love dies, she said, we miss them so much! Our uncles, our aunts, our grandmothers and grandfathers — all of them. We miss them and wish every day they were here.

But on Dia de Muertos, they can come back to us for one more happy day. We have dinner with them! We play cards! We dance! We tell jokes! We party again!

But mostly, we are just happy to be together one more time. Right before Dia de Muertos, we prepare their favorite foods and pull out their favorite games and sometimes even clothes so that they used to like to wear. This way they will be sure to come visit us.

It was the Aha! moment for me.

What a cool idea – how accepting and loving to think even though my Great-Aunt Charlotte may now be a skeleton, she is happy where she is. She could stop by to see me on Dia de Muertos.

People honoring all those they love! This celebration is so jolly that some people even remember their pets! And of course, no Arizona cowboy never ever forgets his favorite horse on the Day of the Dead or any day, for that matter.

Yo, Aunt Charlotte! Party down one more time! Viva la Dia de Muertos!

For more information about the November All Souls Procession Parade in Tucson, see 2024 All Souls’ Procession