Ah, autumn. A time of spooks, a time of thanksgiving, a time of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, a time of... Communing with your long-dead ancestors? Yes, folks, here in South Texas, the Day of the Dead is a festival worth talking about. Oddly enough, my Latina family has never been very traditional, so unfortunately, I've had to explore my heritage all on my own -- but in no way does that make it any less fun! On November 2, I took the time to consider my great-great-grandmother, Trinidad Gonzales de Moreno. Even though I've never known her, I've heard so many bad*ss stories about her, I might as well do what I can to respect her. So, right after school, I convinced my mom to take me to Wal-Mart so I could buy some masa to make a delicious, hearty drink called atole, a holiday drink flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. Once I got home, I immediately put that pot of heavenly goodness on the stove and plopped down to watch "The Book of Life" (arguably one of the best animated movies of all time if I do say so myself). Afterwards, however, when it was time for bed, I decided to take a more sentimental approach before I hit the hay by setting out pillows and a blanket for the spirit of my feisty gran bisabuela. Of course, I knew she wouldn't really arrive from beyond the grave, but just the thought of honoring someone so important in my family brought comfort to me as I shut my eyes.
So, everyone, next year, I would recommend reconnecting with your family members who have since passed on -- even if you aren't Mexican. This is a celebration for everyone, and without reaching across cultural bounds, how can we ever come together as one human race?
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AuthorMy name is Dani Slaughter. I am a university student from San Antonio, musing about what I see and how I see it. Archives
October 2020
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