“Celebration of the Dead” by Brandon Schall

The day of the dead is the Mexican version of the United States Halloween. However, this holiday is not the same at all. Mexicans celebrate this holiday every year on November 2 to honor the dead. They dance, bring food, and honor those who have fallen in a cheerful way. My question is why can’t the United States have a similar tradition? Our Halloween holiday is more for kids and it does not honor the dead; it is a reason to get candy and dress in fun costumes. In the United States we are sad when someone we love passes and we grieve. Friends and family of the deceased send sympathy cards, flowers and wear black to the funeral. Mexico is proud of its’ dead and honor their deceased family and friends in a happy ritual. I think Americans should honor their dead the way Mexico does. The Mexicans believe that the dead go to a better place when they die, so instead of being sad let’s rejoice and honor their life as well as their death.
http://0-www.jstor.org.read.cnu.edu/stable/483058