Day of the Dead + Saint’s Day + Oya

Driving to the store yesterday, I could’ve sworn I saw a ghost flit across the street and into the woods. It also happened to be Halloween, so I had to make sure it wasn’t a child. I mentioned it to my 12-year-old, who has the gift of seeing the in-between, and she said that she wouldn’t be surprised considering that it’s the Devil’s Day. I gently corrected her: It’s not the Devil’s Day. It’s quite the opposite.

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead is celebrated by black and brown people all over the world from about October 31st until November 2nd. Some choose one of those days and others honor all of those days. I do the latter. It’s a beautiful time to remember (and teach the young ones) about those who’ve gone on. Set up an altar, if that’s your thing, with your ancestors’ favorite things.

Funerals can be depressing, and they kinda force you to be sad. That’s something I love about New Orleans’ second line parades. It’s light and fun! And, even as a child, it made more sense in my in to celebrate the deceased’s life. Mourn, yes. Cry, get it out. Then laugh and dance. That’s the energy that Day of the Dead brings.

Although Halloween has its own Celtic roots, involving dressing up to chase away ghosts. I don’t wanna chase ’em away, but I do love the costume aspect. That mirrors how Mexicans, especially, get down for Day of the Dead.

It also hits home for me because Fall is my favorite season. And although it started a couple weeks ago on the calendar, it’s just starting to actually look and feel like Fall in my neck of the woods (Louisiana and Savannah). Fall is a time to harvest and to release. It’s the perfect season for honoring the dead. The first week of June is too, as Katherine Dunham pointed out. I appreciate guides, but I always feel it out for myself to see if makes sense to my spirit (which is why calendar references don’t always work for me). That first week of June, as well as now feels so right.

Oya’s Input

Another reason is because Oya is my Orisha-mama. She is the machete-wielding African goddess of storms, winds, and transformation. She can be as refreshing as a breeze or as hell-raising as a tornado. Both are necessary. At times, we need relief. Other times, we need shit tore tf up, ripped tf out, and flipped upside down, so that room for new can be made. Oya is also the queen of the cemetery. She guards the gate between the living and the dead. She doesn’t live in the graveyard though. Just makes sure that each soul is guided and accounted for.

Oya reminds us that death, too, is a transformation. A graduation, from this world to the next. We should be honored on both planes, however. So call the names of your ancestors.

Saint’s Day

Back in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. So it’s a Catholic holiday, but it’s celebrated by most folk—Catholic or not—in New Orleans. The concept of saints in Catholicism was adopted from the Orishas. Saint’s Day is observed on November 1st and used as a time to honor all the known and unknown saints.

My saints are my loved ones who’ve gone on. My stepfather loved road trips and traveling in general. So I call his name for safe travels. I was Mama Jessie‘s favorite and she was a feisty, flirty, adventurous Sagittarius. I call her name for courage and favor. My best friend Latasha was a helluva writer with big dreams and a huge heart. I call her for comfort and for support in my career endeavors. And so on and so forth.

I also share these saints with my children, so that they knew who to call on. So that they know to keep their ancestors’ names alive. So that they know they ain’t doing this thing called life alone. They have backup in the physical and the spiritual. That’s important.

—

Much love to our new and recurring monthly patrons:

Jessi, June Johnson, Yolanda Acree, Cala, D. Amari Jackson

Your monthly contributions give us the resources to pay black writers and artists, and get more creative and consistent in the content we deliver. We put a lot of time, love, and money into researching, writing, and sharing. Click here to learn more.