Sunday, October 25, 2020

Celebrating Día de los Muertos at Casa Kittling

Over the years that I've been blogging, I've mentioned that I've never been a fan of Halloween. Where I grew up, it seemed that all that particular day signified was overspending on toilet paper to make a mess of people's property, overdosing on candy, and being pelted with spoiled tomatoes when you went on hayrides. No, thank you!

Once I moved to Phoenix, it took me a few years to really begin learning about the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and my interest was probably triggered by several deaths in the family. If you'd like to learn more about Día de los Muertos, you're welcome to read this article from the History Channel.

I've gone from visiting the Desert Botanical Garden's Offrendas exhibition (none this year due to COVID-19) to making my own offrenda (an altar made in honor of your loved ones). Now that I've got my offrenda up, I feel the need to watch Coco, but I'll share some photos with you first!

My offrenda is the one with the lights. The top of the dresser just shows off some related bits 'n' bobs.

Yes, I knitted the scarf. The lighting is so bright that it's made the colors look washed out.

Here are the bits 'n' bobs from places like Santa Fe. I love my mother's Norman Rockwell plate on the right showing a family tree. (The prim & proper married to pirates and outlaws, etc.)

Here is my offrenda. The large plate hanging on the wall is from Target.

Yes, I knitted this scarf, too. I came to my love of bright colors (and in combinations) late in life, but whenever I use them, I think of my grand-aunt Marguerite, who'd crochet any size doily in eye-wateringly bright colors.

Pets are loved ones, too.

My great-grandmother Katie Brookshier. My grand-uncle and -aunt, Glenn and Mary Ann Brookshier.

You guessed it-- I knitted this scarf, too. The color combinations aren't nearly as bright as Aunt Marguerite's. By the way, you'll get a chance to see her in a bit.

Me with my mother, Glenore Brookshier Cole, and my father, Charles Norman Cole. Donald Duck is for my father who could do a perfect Donald Duck impression.

A celebration calls for music, right?

My grandfather, Earl Brookshier, on his favorite seat for listening to Cubs games on the radio. Me with my grandparents, Irene and Earl Brookshier. By the way, I stitched the needlepoint mats on the tops of each cake stand, too.

In the back, my grandfather, Earl Brookshier, at the age of three standing next to his sister, Marguerite, she of the radioactively-colored crocheted doilies, bless 'er. In front, the 1909 wedding photo of my great-grandparents, Myrtle Tadlock Brown and James Elmer Brown. Whenever I look at that chicken, I hear my mother laugh, but the chicken actually belonged to Mom Brown. I also like how my grandfather seems to be keeping an eye on me on the upper left-- something he did quite well.

If there's a problem with something like this that I walk past several times a day, it's that I can't stop faffing with it. (In US-speak, I could say fussing instead.)  As you can see, I've made some changes from the fourth photo at the beginning of the post.

I found a stash of reprints that my grandmother made in her own little darkroom. I didn't want to go to the expense of buying all sorts of frames for the larger originals, and these reprints were perfect to cut to size for small frames. Here I've added my favorite photo of my great-grandfather, James Elmer Brown, because I think he's so handsome in it-- and I love his smile.

My offrenda looks even better with the candles lit, doesn't it?


Do any of you celebrate Día de los Muertos, or is it pumpkins and witches and bats and ghosties for you? Inquiring minds would love to know!

14 comments:

  1. Who neews the Desert Botanical Gardens exhibit when you've got the Casa Kittling Dia de los Muertos exhibit? It's beautiful. And your family photos are wonderful. I wish I had photos of my long-lost ancestors.
    Your house looks like it's sparkling with fun and joy. And everywhere you look, another lovely display.

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    1. Thank you, Kathy. The reason why I have so many old family photos is due entirely to all the hard work my grandmother put in tracking them down.

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  2. Love this Cathy. I never even heard of it before, but you did a great job.

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    1. Thanks, Angela. (And you're Angela now instead of "Unknown"!) I still have some photos that I'd love to have on it, but I'll wait till next year when I can get some proper frames for them.

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  3. Oh, my goodness, this is beautiful, Cathy! You've got such gorgeous displays! I'm glad you observe this holiday. It's not what people often think it is, and I like the way it connects all of us, living or not, to each other. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome, Margot. When I put this together, my mind was filled with so many family stories and memories. It still is, in fact. It makes me feel very close to all those who helped make me who I am.

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  4. What a wonderful way to celebrate! The photos and the decorations all geared for remembrance and honoring those you love, but in a cheerful, hopeful manner. An alter to loved ones filled with affection and gratitude is such a fine tradition.

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    1. Yes, it is-- and you brought up an important point. This isn't sad. Sadness isn't what it's about at all. It's all about remembrance and affection and gratitude. I am fortunate to belong to such a family. I know not everyone does.

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  5. I love everything about Dia de los Muertos. It is such a refreshing and family-oriented approach to death, that I find it inspirational. Back in 2017 I was lucky to be way down in South Texas, very near the border, on the day after Dia de los Muertos and I got to visit a very old cemetery down there (in Terlingua, TX). Everything was colorfully decorated and the things left behind to share with the dead were all still there. It was wonderful.

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    1. I'm sure it was, Sam. I wish I could have seen it.

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  6. What an amazing collection of photos you have! After my dad passed away I really was made aware of how important photos are. They help to recall wonderful memories.

    I love the photo of your grandfather slouched on the bench "watching you"! He looks so relaxed and happy.

    I have never been a fan of Halloween. In fact we generally don't participate in handing out candy or any of it. I remember celebrating Dia de los Muertos in Spanish class in high school, but have not celebrated it since then.

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    1. We don't hand out any candy here either. At first it was because almost all the kids in the neighborhood were destructive little yahoos, and then when other families moved in, no introductions were made (I'm just as guilty as the rest). Any responsible parent should not let their child trick or treat at strangers' homes. Just my own opinion, I know!

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  7. What wonderful memories! You've provided an excellent example of the purpose and celebration of the holiday (at least as I understand it). Thank you for sharing!

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    1. You're welcome, Kate. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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