Think about this: “Those who we love and lose are not where they were before. They are now wherever we are.” Saint John Chrysostom
"The Days of the Dead are October 31st, November 1st, and November 2nd; Halloween (All Hallows Eve and Wiccan New Year), All Saint’s Day, and All Soul’s Day. These are days when the veil between the seen and the unseen, the living and the dead, is exceptionally thin. Hardly there at all. We are surrounded by spirits."
"For those who believe in life after death, these are the days where deceased friends and relatives come back for a visit. They wander around, visiting and partying under the full Harvest Moon. This is also the time when we’re called to acknowledge their presence, celebrate their life, and pray for their blessing."For the last 2 years my family and I have been invited to participate in a 'traditional feast' in memory of our deceased loved ones. On November 1st many families in the native community that I visited on the north-shore gathered together to visit the graves.
We attended each grave of their relatives, said a few words, and left them some 'treats' which they enjoyed in their previous life here on Earth. I found it so peaceful and comforting to watch as the family members attended each grave, leaving flowers, gifts of food and drink, tobacco, etc....and reminisced about 'days of yore'.
Last year my youngest living son Tanner (6 at the time) attended with me. There were many families leaving edible treats on the grave-sites, and we watched and giggled with delight as a tiny squirrel made his rounds snatching up these treats and hiding them in various places about the ground, and in the branches of the evergreens which grew nearby. Boy, he sure did have a sweet tooth!! It was very entertaining to listen to him nattering away as he tried his best to nibble his way into some of the packages which were wrapped up too tight for his liking.
As the sun went down, we bid adieu and returned to my friend's home for our feast. Many people gathered and brought home-made dishes of various types of meat----including some moose roasts and sausages, pork, beef with gravy, glazed ham, fish pie, fried fish, squash, turnip, carrots, potatoes, tossed salads, veggie tray w dip----fruit trays, homemade lemon meringue pie, homemade pumpkin pies, homemade wild-blueberry pie with whipped cream----it was all so tantalizing and tasted amazing!! It was as much a feast for the eyes as it was for our grateful tummies!
The most interesting part of all was the creation and offering of a plate for the spirits of our loved ones. A piece of every single food and drink available was piled onto a plate and shared in a sacred fire out back. We gathered together and words were shared in both English and our traditional Ojibwa language. We toasted and shared the fruits of our labours and returned indoors to enjoy our own Harvest Feast.
I returned home later that night with sore cheeks from smiling so much. The camaraderie in that single room was unlike any other I've experienced anywhere.
It truly was a feast for the soul for all of us.
Gchi-miigwech to our Creator for giving us the gift of life and love. Gzaagin xxoo
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