Candlemas and Tamales

For the Mexican community living in Los Angeles, undoubtedly one of the traditions that stays in practice has to be what is known in Spanish as the Candelaria. Although it is a Catholic holiday it is not known for its religious significance. The most present characteristic, and very specific to Mexico, is the feast of tamales on that day. Every February 2nd, whoever found the little plastic doll referred to as the baby Jesus at the Rosca de Reyes (Celebrated on January 6th) is obliged to hold a feast with tamales. In Mexico, this is a very fun holiday (Except for those charged with supplying the tamales). So why does this delicious variation of such an old Christian holiday exist?  

If January 6^th is the day the King’s visit the baby Jesus, then it is on February 2^nd that he is presented at the temple. Catholics know this day as, "Feast of Purification" or as the "Presentation of Christ at the Temple." Mexico has taken tamales as the traditional food of choice to commemorate this event.

For Americans February 2nd is celebrated as Groundhog Day. It is no coincidence that this day is significant in many places since it marks the mid-way point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. So, as is custom, festivities overlap to facilitate transition from one faith/culture to another.

Halloween and the Day of the Dead

Halloween and the Day of the Dead are two different Holidays with two very distinct forms of celebrating. However, in Los Angeles it is easy to confuse and even interchange these two festivities. What is each one of these really? Why have they become entangled in Los Angeles? Could it be just because they are so conveniently close to one another on the calendar?

Halloween

Halloween is a Christian holiday celebrated every October 31st in many countries in the west. Its roots however, are mixed with the Celtic traditions of the British Isles. The majority of the customs we know of today like costumes, costume parties, Trick-o-treating and Jack O’lanterns come into fruition in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. However, there exists a lot of symbolism in the early forms of this festivity in both the Celtic day of Samhain as well as all souls day in Christianity. In general, both take time to reflect on life and death and to remember loved ones who have passed away.

Today, in the U.S., Halloween has become a much more commercial and secular holiday. Parents take their children Trick-o-treating. Adolescents and adults enjoy going to costume parties as well as other attractions. All these customs of today are no longer followed with any deep spiritual message instead it is a day of macabre themed fun. 

The Day of the Dead

The day of the dead is also a Christianized holiday. However, it has a clearer mark of its syncretism with the Mesoamerican tradition. It is celebrated every November 2^nd in Mexico and parts of Central America. From these two cultures, the day of the dead as we know it, is born. It is a day to remember our lost loved ones celebrated as more of a family holiday where people set up altars in their homes and/or visit the burial sites of their dearly departed with offerings to be displayed on their graves of their favorite things.It is celebrated slightly different from region to region in Mexico maintaining the most emblematic parts consistent throughout.

Los Angeles puts its touch

These two holidays find themselves coexisting, assimilating and adapting with one another. We see these two festivities merging and, in some way, becoming one three-day long holiday. Halloween is growing ever more populated by people dressing up as the Catrina and with decorations having obvious touches of the ofrendas like paper maché and sugar skulls. On the Day of the Dead we see more people dressing in costume and festivals with food stands and music more reminiscent of Halloween celebrations.

 
Personally, this time of year happens to be one of my favorites. Now, I must admit that there are really only two seasons that can be felt in Los Angeles: summer and spring. However, autumn has always been my favorite. If not because of the change in weather (almost non-existent), definitely because all the cultural activities it brings. Thanks to the city’s bicultural identity, Angelinos can experience Halloween and the Day of the dead. Unfortunately for purists, the same bicultural identity is drastically modifying the way they are practiced. But when one considers that both Holidays are also mixtures of other traditions, what we see happening now is simply a continuation of the historical mechanism for how these festivities continue to exist. Everything modifies, everything adapts. For those who fail to embrace this concept are condemned to get lost in history.