By Sergio Garcia | SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
1. Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead)
This holiday is mostly celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican origin who reside in other parts of the world; however, this celebration is also common in some parts of Central and South America. Some people celebrate this day by going to cemeteries and honoring their deceased loved ones by decorating their tombs, bringing their favorite food and even partying while listening to Mariachi music. In addition, altars are made with pictures of the deceased and are decorated with the things that the deceased used to like. This day is usually celebrated between Nov. 1 and 2.
2. Pitru Paksha
Pitru Paksha can be translated as “fortnight of the ancestors” and it is a period in which Hindus praise their ancestors. Rather than being a one-day celebration, this festivity is a 16-lunar day period in the Hindu calendar. Rituals and food offerings are presented to departed souls as a means of ensuring their peaceful rest.
3. Bon Festival
This festival is a combination of Japanese and Buddhist practices. The purpose of the festival is to pray for one’s departed ancestors and their restful repose. Families decorate their homes to receive the spirits of their ancestors. On the last day of the festival, people go to nearby rivers and release lit lanterns into the current to guide spirits to the other world.
4. All Souls’ Day
Many people have the misconception that the Catholic Church is strictly against these types of celebrations; however, it has a day that honors the dead. All Souls’ Day pays tribute to departed souls who went to heaven. People also pray for the cleansing of impure souls in order for them to be accepted into paradise.
5. Famadihana (Turning of the Bones)
This funerary tradition has its root in Madagascar. While many other celebrations honor the dead by decorating their tombs, the Malagasy people actually unearth their ancestors with the purpose of rewrapping them in fresh cloth. After doing so, they proceed to dance to live music around the tomb while carrying the corpse.
