Samhain is the Wiccan New Year, when the last of the harvest is gathered in before the onset of winter. It is also the time of year when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest, and the souls of those who have passed before us may cross back to visit this realm. In Mexico, this event holds special significance, and Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is still celebrated throughout the country on November 2nd.
Preparations begin early in October as stores and bakeries fill their shelves with food and toys in the shapes of ghosts and skeletons. Special breads are baked, marzipan is shaped into skulls with names of family members inscribed on them, and shrines are constructed in honor of those ancestors who have passed away. "Calaveras," comic verses constructed as epitaphs, are written about friends and family members. On the dawning of Dia de los Muertos itself, people go into graveyards with festive picnic lunches and great bunches of marigolds, which are used to decorate the graves. Prayers are said for the deceased, who are believed to return this day to share in the repast, and a toast is drunk to them at the end of the day.
Dia de los Muertos is observed throughout Mexico; however, a noteworthy celebration is held on the island of Janitzio in Lake Patzcuaro, located in the southwestern state of Michoacan. The events here begin on November 1st, with a traditional duck hunt held by the descendants of the Tarasca Indians.
Then, after midnight, the residents make their way to the small graveyard behind the church. Thousands of glittering candles are lit, and as the women and children settle by the graves, the bells of the church ring out and the men begin to chant. The haunting sound continues until daylight, when a feast is held that includes duck meat dishes prepared from the previous day's hunt.
Celebrations of Samhain in the United States have taken a lighter turn with modern Halloween balls, but you may still have a solemn outing to commemorate the day. One suggestion: honor the gods of the underworld by visiting their realm with an exploration of a cave. You may feel the presence of Hades and Hecate in any number of caves throughout Washington State. Some notable sites are Ape Cave at Mount St. Helens, Gardner Cave in Crawford State Park near Metaline Falls or the Big Four Ice Caves near Silverton in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Many caves have guided tours, and the quiet caverns are an ideal place to meditate on the descent of Persephone to join her king.
However, if spelunking is not your style, you may want to try a more modern approach with a tour of underground Seattle. Explore the subterranean area of Pioneer Square created when the streets were raised after the 1889 fire that destroyed a 30 block area. Wear sturdy walking shoes, and be warned: the unsavory scents of modern day sewage can be detected at times. Somehow this only adds to the spooky atmosphere.
For those of you who wish to investigate the offerings of Mexico on the Internet, there is a terrific site at http://www.go2mexico.com/guestbk.html. This page offers travel tips from tourists, people who have actually been to Mexico and want to share ideas on the best kept secrets of the region. For local explorers, there is the Washington Online Highway at http://www.ohwy.com/wa. This site is dedicated to area interests, and includes comments about Ape Cave, among others. Happy Traveling!
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