There is one thing in life that is certain, at some point during our life, we will all face the death of a loved one. We will all experience loss and when we do, grief is the emotion we will feel.
Cultures around the world handle grief and loss very differently, at present we are approaching a celebration called Dia De Muertos or Day of the Dead.
At midnight on the 31st October to the 2 November, a feast called Dia De Muertos - or Day of The Dead is celebrated.
It is a Mexican holiday and is observed throughout Mexico, as well as in other cultures. It is a time when family and friends gather to remember friends and family members who have died. The holiday coincides with Hallowmas, and All Soul's Day.
In Brazil Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches.
In Spain there are festivals and parades and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones.
Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures. ~ Wikipedia
In our western culture, death is a difficult topic to address and most of us are very distant in our way of handling death and grief.
In the Latin american culture, while there is still a fear of death, they do not hide their fears. Dia De Muertos gives people a healthy way of grieving. With support from loved ones, those in grief can express their emotions through the way that they create displays, make food and art.
A few years ago I invited our dance community to a celebration of Dia De Muertos. I asked everyone to bring a photo of a loved one that had died. I set up a sideboard and invited people to place their pictures there. I had candles that they could light and invited people to share their stories with each other. It was such a special evening and our community got closer that night.
So on this Dia De Muertos, if you have faced loss and are experiencing grief, I extend my heartfelt thoughts to you. I invite you to reach out and talk to others about the loved ones that you have lost, express your feelings of loss, remember the good days and the fun that you had together.
If tears want to fall - allow them, give the pain inside a voice; talk, write poetry, do some art, sing, celebrate with a loved ones favourite dinner with family and friends.