Mexican Montrealers celebrate the Day of the Dead
Attendees enjoyed food and music and raised money for victims of September's devastating earthquake
People gathered in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce this afternoon to celebrate Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday that honours those who have passed away.
The day commemorates the brief return to Earth of deceased relatives and loved ones. Rafael Benitez, who runs the non-profit group that organized the celebration, said the idea is that their spirits come to visit from the land of the dead.
"It's not hell or heaven, it's some place they live," he told CBC's All in a Weekend.
The day is a celebration of the things the deceased loved while they were alive. Many of the offerings — flowers, crafts and food, for example — are for those ancestors to enjoy.
Benitez explained the belief is that the dead are capable of bringing prosperity or misfortune upon their families depending on how satisfactorily the rituals are executed.
And while it's a day about the dead, it's not a sad day. Death is not easy, but it's part of life, Benitez said.
"It's a way to keep in touch with tradition and roots, and also honour the teachings of our ancestors. It's being in contact with them," Benitez said.
The NDG celebration took place at the Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi on Sherbrooke Street West. It featured 10 different altars made by people in the Mexican community and guests were invited to bring a photo of a dead loved one to lay at the altar if they wished.
There was music by local group, Las Mechas, and pan de muertos, a round, sweet, orange-flavoured bread that's only eaten during the holiday.
"With hot chocolate, that tastes very good," Benitez said.
They also auctioned full colour posters made by Mexican artists. The plan is to send the proceeds to Mexico to help victims of September's deadly earthquake.
Benitez's non-profit is called PAAL Montreal, and he runs it with his wife Pilar Hernandez. Their goal is to help facilitate cultural exchanges.
The event was a way to share Mexico's culture with others and teach them about what the celebration is about, he explained.
With files from CBC Montreal's All in a Weekend