La Catrina – the skeleton of a high-sociey woman popular in Mexican culture during the Day of the Dead festivities: Image via Wikipedia

The death culture of Mexico has pre-Columbian roots. The Aztecs believed that the Monarch butterflies that returned to Mexico, at this time of the year, were the souls of their ancestors. The Aztec goddess Mictecacihuatl was the Queen of the Underworld, who kept watch over the dead and had festivals in her honour. At the ball court in Cichen Itza, the winners of the game in Mayan society were honoured by their own deaths. In the Mayan ruin of Palenque, the sun enters the halls of one particular structure and lights up a tomb. Death and life were melded together in the minds of the ancient Mexicans. In Mesoamerican culture, the skull of the defeated enemy was kept as a trophy and used in ritual as a reminder of the intertwining of life and death.

Pátzcuaro

Pátzcuaro is a city in western Mexico that is noted for its Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, fiestas The craft markets cater for the celebration as graves are cleaned and offerings prepared. In a nearby town, a ball game is held – only the winners get to live and they do not mind playing with a flaming ball! There is a legend here about a princess, Mintzita, beloved of the prince Itzihuapa. When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived and took her father hostage, she offered them gold at the bottom of Lake Pátzcuaro to secure the release of her father. Itzihuapa went to go and get it, but he was captured by the twenty ghosts that guarded the gold. Once a year, these guardian ghosts returned to the living for just one night and brought Itzihuapa to his Mintzita.

In general, the Day of the Dead is on the 1st and 2nd of November, in connection with the Catholic All Souls and All Saints, but the whole festival lasts from 27 or 31 October to 2 November, depending on the region. November first is dedicated to “los angelitos” and “los inocentes” – “the little angels” and “the innocents” – the lost children. The second day is for all adult deceased, “los difuntos”. After the Spanish Conquest, the Roman Catholic Church tried to eradicate the early August celebration but, in the end, reconciled it to All Souls, as had happened in Europe.

Preparation

In the days before the fiesta, families clean and decorate the graves of their dearly departed. Marigolds and coxcomb flowers are grown in abundance just for this time. Floral arches are stood over the burial sites as a way of guiding the deceased home, along with candles.  To lure the souls back to their graves with favourite drinks and foodstuffs. Families bake “pan de los muertos” – “bread of the dead” – a round anise flavoured loaf with dough or white frosting crossbones to eat on the day they await their ghostly visitors. They will also set up altars to their deceased in their homes. Many say they feel the presence of the dead in their homes at this time of the year, whither they have an altar or not. Any odd household happenings are attributed to the dead in November. Even at schools and offices, altars for offerings are constructed.

Calaveras

The Mesoamerican cultures saw the skull as a symbol of life. Hence, the skull is a common decoration for the Day of the Dead. Sparkly white sugar skulls, calaveras, are the most popular treat around. Mictecacihuatl has been reimagined as Santa Muerte (Holy Death), Señora de las Sombras (Lady of the Shadows), Señora Blanca/Señora Negra (White or Black Lady), Niña Santa (Holy Girl), La Flaca (the Skinny One) or the elegant La Catrina, female skeletons whose images adorn murals and frescos. These female skeletons are clad either in simple robes, bridal gowns, nun’s habits or ornate dresses. Their purpose is to remind us of the fragility of our human selves and that we will all be but bones someday. Status, wealth and piety are no barrier for Santa Muerte and her scythe.

The Vigil

On those two days, people hold vigils at the cemeteries. Toys are brought for the “inocentes” and tequila for the “difuntos”. Along with food, these are called “ofrendas” – offerings.  Candles are taken to the graveyard to light the way; an extra is taken for those who have been forgotten by their descendants and relatives. Pillows and blankets are laid out so the dead can rest after their long journey from the underworld.  All night the Mexicans wait for the departed souls as church bells ring to summon the spirits home. As they wait, family folklore and tales are told and retold so the dead are not forgotten and the value of those living is reinforced. The vigil ends with a dawn or a midnight mass, depending on the area, and the consumption of the food offerings.

La Dia de los Muertos is a day not of gore or morbidity but of respect for the departed. It is a way of reinforcing family history and community spirit. It is also a way of revering death and recognising its power over us all. The Day of the Dead instills an appreciation of life through its veneration of death.

 See also: http://authspot.com/short-stories/the-day-my-grandfather-came-home/

Ocotepec cemetery, near Cuernavaca: Image via Wikipedia

Day of the Dead food offerings: Image via Wikipedia

Offerings for the Day of the Dead: Image via Wikipedia

Cleaning and preparation in Mexico: Image via Wikipedia

Mexico City: Image by Bogdan Migulski via Flickr

Dream interpretation and the hiring of spritual mediums were a common practice but of course there were some who have decided to take it to a different level – by summoning the dead from the grave.

This was a simple but dangerous practice. Summoning the wrong spirit could often endanger ones life. Penang has many burial grounds all over, some being as ancient as one could remember. So as the story goes, there were four men who wanted to make money real quick. After obtaining some dog’s blood filled into an urn, the group set out to an ancient grave of a powerful lady spirit whom they believe will grant them the jackpot figures.

These graves were often left unfenced because superstition and fearing the wrath of the dead had actually prevented any form of vandalism. So upon arriving, the men poured the dog’s blood unto the grave of which will awaken the spirit. Within minutes the spirit came out and she asked what was it that the men wanted, of which they replied, “we are here to ask a favor – to be granted with the winning lottery number, and in return we will give you an offering of a whole roasted pig and food.” It is believed that an offering of an entire pig was a very grand offering to the dead. However, the spirit was not pleased and replied, “You have burnt my body with the blood of a dog and you expect me to be pleased with your offerings?I want you to spend an eternity with me in hell as my husbands!”

Fearing for their souls the men fled, of which the first one fell off a cliff in the darkness and died. The other two sped off in a car only to crash fatally and die. The remaining one managed to make it to a nearby temple of which the spirit followed him to. The chief monk of the temple then confronted the spirit and asked what she wanted. Knowing that the men have offended the spirit because of the dog’s blood, the chief monk took 6 drops of blood from himself and offered it to the spirit to spare the man’s life. Respecting the chief monk, the spirit then left with a stern warning to the man – “I will wait for you in hell.”

Skeptics attribute this to the believers of life after death simply coloring what they hear.That eager listeners interpret the outside noise,or bleed over as actual words coming from the spirit world messengers.They report this is just not so,yet many Scientists,Acclaimed Paranormal Investigators, and Researchers around the world claim to have received messages from beyond where the supposed spirit actually called someone in their group by name!Specific questions have elicited specific answers expressing love and concern!

This is the most fascinating aspect of EVP,the voices sometime respond directly to the persons making the recording.The researchers will ask a question for example,and the voice will answer or comment.Of course this response is not heard until later when it is played back.These voices vary in gender,(male,female,child,etc.)in tone and emotion.Sometimes they are just groans,growling,grunts,crying,or even laughter.Evp has aslo been recorded speaking in various languages.According to top researchers,you do not have to try rcording your own EVP’s in a graveyard,or supposed haunted location either.These can be recorded generally just about everywhere that it is quiet,and if you dare!

Mankind has been trying to communicate with the dead for centuries.Have they finally suceeded?Here are some top EVP’s,you decide for yourself after listening.Do you believe?

EVP Video Of Murdered Children

EVP Of A Mean Little Ghost Girl

VERY SCARY VIDEO OF GHOSTS AND EVP
A Scariest EVP’S EVER!
EVP of Angered Ghost over Spilled Water…scary!

Voices From The Grave (EVPs)

EVPs from a Haunted Home in West Sacramento-worlds scariest evps and pics!

Graveyards, haunted houses, ancient archaeological sites, your house! Ghosts, goblins, spirits, angels, ghouls, phantoms. No matter the name, they have been with us since the beginning of time. The list is endless of where these pesky spirits will appear, when you least expect it. Some of you may not admit to it, but you’ve listened to the late night radio show on the AM dial, Coast to Coast. This is the time of year when the host will have several shows on the paranormal. Hundreds of listeners call in with their personal experiences with ghosts.

Are all of these witnesses nut cases? One sandwich short of a picnic? If you listen to them tell of their experiences, they sound sincere, some still scared, even years later. Everyone knows the feeling of the hair on your arms standing straight up. The shiver that goes right up your spine. There is an old expression regarding that feeling, “Someone is walking over your grave”. Have you experienced the feeling that someone was looking at you only to turn around and no one is there. That creeps me out.

I have been fortunate to live in what we call the mystery house. Our spirit visitors love to play pranks. Lately it’s been moving the dog and cat food into the middle of the kitchen floor. Not an easy feat even for the living, the bowels are wedged into a space, not easily moved, not to mention moving them about 5 feet without spilling a drop. I’ve been sitting at my desk and watched items fly off the desk and land on the floor behind me. How about walking into a room and find that your drapes have been re-hung, inside out?

Scared? No. Occasionally annoyed? Yes. During a particularly active period of ghost activity, it can start to get unnerving but it never gets dull. We have had people in our lives who were pranksters who have now passed on, so we chose to believe that it’s one of our loved ones, letting us know that we are not alone.

Our pets see the ghosts frequently. One of them will start barking at the corner of the room and then sit and stare at it. We can’t see a thing, but the animals know someone is there. I can actually say that I have seen a ghost, spirit, nonliving person, whatever you are comfortable calling them. I looked out my bedroom door into the next room and saw a woman standing there in a long antique beige dress. It had a high collar with lace on the bodice and it draped on the floor. She had her hair piled on top of her head. As I stood there, staring with my mouth open, she started to fade and finally left as quietly as she had appeared.

Am I crazy? No more so than you. We can learn from those around us. The living and the “not quite” living. After all, aren’t we all just spirits? Some still in these aging bodies and some who have been liberated.

As Halloween approaches, let the little Trick or Treaters, ghosts, goblins and scary monsters have their goodies and enjoy their childhood while they can. The real show is all around you, if you keep an open mind and heart. Boo!