There are two posts today - yes, two! - celebrating two separate blogging events. I'll begin the first by extending an invitation to you.
Every November I write a post about the Mexican festival, Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. It is a festival that in a way, helped me move past grieving for my father after he died in 1990 by presenting a more positive outlook on Death.
One night, several years after my father died, I went to the home of a good friend's aunt for a dinner and I remember her telling me of her recent trip to 
Mexico and seeing the Mexican festival, the Day of the Dead. I was fascinated when she told me that it is a festival honouring loved ones who have passed on. It is celebrated through building a temporary altar honouring the deceased, by eating and drinking his or her favourite foods, by dancing to his or her favourite music and by sharing favourite family stories. There are crosses and photographs of the deceased on the altar, along with candles and flowers (marigolds are traditional), little skull candies and skeleton toys (including La Catrina, a fancy victorian lady wearing a feathered hat) and colourful paper banners. I also like the festival's idea of the Three Deaths... the first being that when someone dies, their body dies; the second is when their spirit leaves for heaven or for whatever is next; the last is when everyone who remembers the deceased has died. That third death re-enforces the idea that noone is really gone when they are still remembered.
In parts of Mexico, this celebration extends over three days but it is officially celebrated on All Saint's Day, November 2nd. That is the day when the deceased are allowed to revisit the living. They aren't visible; rather, their presence is felt through their family and friends sharing stories about them.
I was so taken with the Day of the Dead festival that I incorporated it into a photographic series. Recently I discovered that bloggergal Stephanie also shares a love for the festival and interprets it through her beautiful tin assemblages and collages which you can see on her blog.
Well, Stephanie and I thought that we would both host a blogger celebration of the Day of the Dead on November 2nd and we want YOU to join us! We're calling it Dia de Bloglandia and the idea is that on November 2nd, participants will post something to do with the Day of the Dead. You can post a photograph or an illustration, a poem or a written piece, even perhaps build a little altar honouring someone who has passed on. Really, it's up to you to interpret this festival in any medium you wish. We'd love to see what you come up with! Stephanie created a Dia de Bloglandia button (at the top of this paragraph) which you can copy and use on your own blogs. On November 2nd, Stephanie and I will post links on our blogs to your Dia de Bloglandia posts so make sure to leave your name and post link in our both our comment sections. Remember, November 2nd!
