Honoring Méxican culture in 87 words

#FallWritingFrenzy 2022

Anyone else cry when they watch Coco? ✋🏽

SUCH. A. BEAUTIFUL. FILM.

As a child I shied away from the colorful skulls of Día de los Muertos (or simply Día de Muertos as locals refer to it). But now I think it’s beautiful!

Here’s my short piece honoring the stunning culture of México:

(+ handcrafted DDLM finds!)

Credit: Stefano Ciociola for Unsplash

The Heart of Día de los Muertos

by Nicole Williamson

The ofrenda smiles with 

old photos and 

candle smoke curls with memories.

Mama’s pan de muerto

glistens with 

butter and sugar.

Marigolds make

a trail of blazing sun

beckoning loved ones from beyond.

Candied calaveras sparkle

with stardust–

bright beacons in the dark.

Papel picado flutters

with the breeze of 

family floating home. 

La Catrina reminds us 

to remember those we’ve lost 

with happiness and warmth.

Life is a celebration. 

Death is not 

the 

end. 

La familia lives forever 

in our hearts.

Credit: Disney’s Coco

Sending love to all the ‘Mama Cocos’ out there, forever close to our hearts.

In writing this piece I discovered the Day of the Dead is rich with symbolism (find out why sugar skulls? HERE).

And while it does have skulls and starts on Oct 31st (and goes through Nov 2nd) . . .

it is NOT a Mexican Halloween.

But you can still “participate thoughtfully” (Henry Pacheco) in Día de los Muertos to honor your loves ones and celebrate their legacies.

At the core, that’s what this holiday is all about: family.

Some links may be affiliate.

How to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Ceramic Calavera (Sugar Skull) Candle Holders

Paint your own Mini Day of the Dead Altar

Catrina Sugar Skull Earrings

Edible Sugar Skull

Papel Picado. Mariposa symbolize transformation and rebirth.

Catrina Art

Feliz Día de los Muertos!

Next: How to ‘Fall’ in love: 7 fall date ideas to up your sweater-weather romance game