Tag: Day of the Dead

Posted in Holiday Joy

A Saintly Sunday

Posted on by Neal Saye

What a terrific Day of the Dead 2025 Robert and I have experienced!

It all began with breakfast as we feasted on delicious Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead) we had ordered the day before from local Mexican bakery/restaurant La Canasta Panaderia.

What IS Pan de Muerto? you may be asking. Here’s what Google told me:

Yum!

Then we went to our church, Asbury Memorial hrre in Savannah, for our annual All Saints Sunday service, where we remember the church members and other dear folks who have passed on during the past year.

At the front of the church, there was a large ofrenda (altar), and at one point, the pastor invited folks to come forward with photos or mementos of their loved ones.

I brought a little marble Last Supper sculpture I bought for my parents when daughter Amy and I were in Italy … 25 years ago. It sat on their mantle for eons until they passed away.

Here it is in the lower left, below photos of other folks 

This year Robert remembered his kitty cat Boopers.

Then tonight HR and I had our Dia de los Muertos supper, consisting of several of our deceased parents’ favorite foods: Maryland crab cakes, homemade vegetable soup and cornbread.

A wonderful and joyful heartfelt day of remembrance.

Oh, let’s not forget the special treats our folks loved.

Pork rinds (I know, not healthy, but my dad lived to almost 97), orange slices, black and white cookies

Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 11/1/25 “5 Weeks and Día de los Angelitos”

Posted on by Neal Saye

Robert and I had a quiet, meaningful couple of hours the other evening setting up our annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) ofrenda (altar), remembering our parents and other loved ones who have passed on before us.

The time was especially dear for me this year because I thought to pull out some old files that, along with other paraphernalia, stayed for decades in my parents’ safety deposit box before they died (my mother in 2016 and my father in 2020).

In one file was the funeral information about a brother, Jimmie, who was born in 1946 and only lived for five weeks.

My mother dried and kept some flowers from his little grave.

In the little baggie behind the Celtic cross.

These old flowers are now 78 years ago—three quarters of a century!

I love the Day of the Dead season. “Nov. 1 is known as Día de los Angelitos, which honors the souls of deceased children, and Nov. 2 is Día de los Muertos.” usatoday.com

So today HR and I remembered little Jimmie and his brief life.

And that’s my Saturday Evening Post.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 11/1/24

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Grandchildren Trick or Treating last night …

Isabelle and Madison

Or going to their first high school homecoming game and dance …

Gabriel, with the distinctive hair

2. Our Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebration and meal today.

Robert and I were especially celebrating the lives of our parents.

Black eyed peas and hog jowls (one of my folks’ favorite dishes). With ultimate lump crab cakes (one of Baltimore HR’s folks’ fav).

3. Memories.

4. These incredible lacquered flower pumpkins in front of a Savannah Historic District home near us.

Look!

5. Incredibly good-smelling fall candles.

May you “fall” into a great weekend ahead.

Posted in Holidays and Seasonal Changes

Attempting a Dia de Muertos Celebration

Posted on by Neal Saye

Last fall near Halloween, Robert and I watched Pixar’s Coco, which beautifully introduced us to Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Coming from a family culture that embraces frequent visits to graveyards and cemeteries, I loved the idea of remembering loved ones who have passed on by having their own joyfully colorful and celebratory holiday.

It was only a couple of days until November 2, the traditional day when the holiday is celebrated in Mexico and other places. So we quickly made a little ofrenda (altar) consisting of a couple of pictures of our deceased parents, some flowers and a candle or two. Sitting before our simple shrine, we thanked our folks for their lives and their love.

But 2021 was another story. We began gathering Day of the Dead materials months ago and started making preparations.

We collected Day of the Dead candles, banners, decorations, and on a trip to Atlanta, we found a loaf of Pan de Muertos (Bread of the Dead) at the Buford Highway Farmers Market (what a glorious center of culinary diversity).

Last Tuesday, November 2nd, we celebrated by combining our dinner table and our Day of the Dead ofrenda.

Robert’s folks …

And mine …

We made some of their favorite foods for our meal …

Fried corn, collard greens, Maryland crab cakes and pork rinds

The loaf of Pan de Muertos, round to symbolize the cycle of life, with teardrops flowing from the top, representing goddess Chimalma’s tears for the living.

Holding hands, we shared memories of fun, funny and joyful stories from the lives of our parents and other loved ones who have passed on.

A movingly marvelous evening and now a permanent addition to our holiday calendar.