The indolic scent of cempasuchil, the flower of a thousand petals as golden as the sun, rides the copal smoke rising from its sahumador, joining the scents of cacaloxochitl (red frangipani), cacao, molé, pulque, sugar skulls and almond candies in their song calling the spirits of the dead home for a short window of time. What began as an ancient indigenous Mexican veneration of Mictecacihuatl, the Goddess of Death, Dia de los Muertos is now a celebration that spans the whole of Mexico, crossing contemporary borders and boundaries between generations.
During this class, we will discuss the history and construction of the Dia de los Muertos altar, along with the role scented offerings play in this ancient Mexican tradition. We will explore important botanical species and sacred foods, as well as the importance of the “non-scented” components of an ancestral altar.
Students are welcome and encouraged to attend with the optional smell-along materials listed in the class resource.
Students will leave the class with knowledge of:
The origins of the Dia de los Muertos celebration in Mexico, and some of the differences among regions
The plant spirits who play key roles in this ritual
The elements that make up a Mexican Dia de Los Muertos altar
The fundamental metaphysics of physical offerings
Methods of venerating spirits in their own lives, traditions and cultures
IMPORTANT NOTES
This class will take place online, on Zoom. Please look out for an email from us about 24 hours before class starts, which will contain Zoom log-in information and the class handouts. We will share the video for this class with registered participants for 3 days after it takes place.
Cost: $25
Image credit: Mfmegevand