By: Maya Sharpnack
Día de los Muertos Celebration + Video
I remember being a little girl and walking to the Ysleta cemetery with my grandma.
The cemetery was only one block away from our house and I was always scared of
it. It is a very old cemetery. Most of the plots are simple, not ornate. Some plots are
marked with small barriers, like stones; and some are marked with wooden crosses.
There are no trees or grass – its just dirt.
My grandma would hold my hand with one hand and carried flowers from her
garden in her other hand and we would walk around the cemetery until she found
her “angelitos” little angels.
She would dust off their gravesites and place flowers for her two children who
passed away in 1943, one month right after the other. Her son Jesus Manuel passed
away before he was three years old and her other son, Francisco died before he was
one. I remember asking my grandma how they passed away and she got teary eyed
and didn’t answer, so I never wanted to ask her again.
I never knew why we were at the cemetery on that chilly fall day; I just knew it was
a special day. Now I’ve come to realize that it must have been Día de los Muertos.
Today I’d like to introduce to you my lovely daughter, Maya. She is 12 years old and
is my guest blogger today. If you have been following Muy Bueno for a while you
know that I love to celebrate Día de los Muertos and try to share the true meaning of
the holiday.
For me this day is a day to honor those that have passed. Like my grandma did, I
never want to forget our departed loved ones.
This time I asked my daughter to share what she thinks the holiday represents. I
really didn’t know what to expect when I asked her to script a story for a Día de los
Muertos video. To be honest I was blown away. I invite you to read what Día de los
Muetos means to her and watch the video we made, narrated by my daughter. It is
by far my most favorite video. I am so proud of her! I am completely in love with it
and I hope you are too.
Take it away Maya~
My family has been celebrating Día De Los Muertos since I was eight years old. We
decorate an altar with photos, favorite foods, drinks, and memorable items of our
deceased loved ones.
This year we wanted to extend the celebration and invited friends and family to join
us in celebrating the lives of their departed loved ones.
We celebrated with my cousin Danica who is honoring her grandpa Wolfgang.
My little brother Blake who is honoring our great-grandma Jesusita and our uncle
Wolfgang.
My friend Zeta who is honoring her cousin Matthew.
My cousin Dominic who is honoring his grandpa Wolfgang and his Grandpa Fred.
And I honored my grandma Anita.
What I like best about this holiday is putting on makeup that makes me look like a
sugar skull, hearing stories about my ancestors about what they did in their lives,
and getting to know them – it feels as if they are here with me.
Here is a video we made together, sharing what this holiday means to me. I hope you
are inspired to celebrate the lives of your departed loved ones.
INSERT VIDEO
Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them. ~George Eliot
Special thanks to everyone who assisted to make this day possible.
Photography: Jeanine Thurston / Video by Pure Cinematography / MUA: Leilani Drum / Hair Dresser:
Karen / Costume Design: Yvette and Jessica / Altar Styling: Lola’s Cocina / Crochet Poncho: XX / Set
Design and Decor: Brenda and Karen / Production Assistances (AKA hubbies) Bill, George, and Augi /
Transportation: Lexus