"In times of deep grief and mourning" Top 5 Page for this destination Monte Albán by MD2nd

Monte Albán Travel Guide: 77 reviews and 251 photos

In times of deep grief and mourning - Monte Albán

You may remember Mexico's custom that celebrate on November 1 - All Saints Day - and November 2 - All Souls Day - The Day of the Dead. It is celebrated by visits to graveyards, where relatives spruce up the grave, have a picnic, and tell memories about the departed. The dead remain part of life. On a deeper level, this custom symbolizes the wheel of life includes death. These reunions at family burial plots are lively and colorful.

November 1 is set aside for remembrance of deceased infants and children, often referred to as Angelitos. November 2 are those honored who have died as adults.

The graves are then decorated by a cross formed of marigold petals or elaborately embellished with colorful wreaths and fresh or artificial floral arrangements. In many areas children's graves are festooned with brightly colored paper streamers or other festive adornments.

While death is a topic largely avoided in the US, often in Europe too, the remembrance of deceased ancestors and loved ones is yet traditional among diverse cultures around the globe, marked by lighting candles or lamps.

Grieving and death rituals vary widely across cultures and are often heavily influenced by religion. Mexicans have more understanding and acceptance of death. Death is portrayed in Mexican statues, art, literature, and history, and Mexicans are socialized early to accept death, giving them a "cultural familiarity with death." Mexicans and other Latinos celebrate "Dia de los Muertos" to remember and honor the dead.

-http://www.medscape
-http://www.mexconnect

Magdalena Church

Jesus Christ, you are risen from the dead and can die no more. You sit at the right hand of the Father where you intercede for us. Your wisdom and love have called our loved ones home to You before us. You welcome them and give them a place at your heavenly banquet. You give them refreshment, rest, and peace. You change their mortal body to be like your own in glory. Please, listen to my humble prayers for the loved ones of Marine Cpl Jose A. Garibay, Marine LCpl Jesus A. Suarez Del Solar, Marine Pfc Jose Franci Gonzales-Rodriguez, Marine LCpl Juan Lopez, Marine LCpl M. Garcia-Schill, please, listen to my prayers in the pain for the losses of my own. Please, grant us that we all may be reunited safely in Your everlasting Presence. Please, strengthen our hopes and courage. Through Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, I beg this of You. Amen.

Cemetary on Isla Mujeres

In a sandy Isla Mujeres cemetery, Marta rests on a fanciful tomb in the late-afternoon sun. "She is my sister," Marta says, motioning toward the teal-and-blue tomb. "I painted this today." She exudes no melancholy, rather she's smiling, happy to be spending the day with her sibling.

Nearby, Juan puts the final touches—vases made from shells he's collected—on his father's colorful tomb. A glass box holds a red candle and a statue of the Virgin Mary, her outstretched arms pressing against the glass as if trying to escape the flame. "This is all for him," Juan says, motioning to his masterpiece, "because he is a good man."
-David Downing

Please check out ViajesdelMundo's Mexico pages. Great informations provided there!

Great informations as well provided by Stephen-KarenConn's Mexico pages

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful country & ppl. Impressive history & cultur.
Cons:Be careful where and what to eat.
In a nutshell:There's so much more to Mexico than that what media reports us nowadays.

Intro Updated Mar 7, 2012
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Reviews (8)

About food & water Local Customs (1)

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Textiles Off The Beaten Path (1)

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Waiting for ferry at Puerto Juarez - Monte Albán

Isla Mujeres Things to Do (6)

The Isla Mujeres is located due east off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It's about eight miles across the Bay of Women... more travel advice

Comments (5)

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Yaqui Mar 5, 2012 at 7:02 AM

Hey Sweatpea! It is very traditional for Hispanics to visit their family on their birthdays and all holidays. You should see the cemeteries here around Mothers, Fathers, and Christmas Day and all you can see is a sea of flowers and lawn chairs.
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alancollins May 2, 2011 at 8:36 AM

I have been lucky eating food from street vendors and avoided tummy upsets so far.
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Nemorino Jan 18, 2011 at 10:54 AM

Great that you included a tip on Frida Kahlo. I love her work and once even saw an opera about her life, performed at the small city theater in Nordhausen.
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Tom_In_Madison Apr 9, 2010 at 9:14 AM

It's cold here too, snowed a little yesterday. I have friends here, sounds like a nice place. A bit warmer. Did you see the huge tree there?
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ViajesdelMundo Sep 27, 2009 at 3:09 PM

Would you believe 30 yrs travllg in Mexico I hv never gotten sick; I eat EVERYTHING, but drink bottled water. Monte Alban and Oaxaca are very special places! Coincidentally, I just got out my books on Jose' G. Posada to do a page on Dia de las Muertas..