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November 1st and November 2nd, All Saints Day and All Souls Day
respectively. The 1st is a national holiday, rather like Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day all rolled into one. On the 1st, traditionally, the graves of the young are honored and on the 2nd, the graves of the adults are honored but mostly all are honored on the first. Locally, processions weave through the streets of the families on their way to the cemetery, all are holding candles...the smoke from the candle will keep evil spirits at bay. For the cemeteries farther from town..vendors selling candles and snacks line the road near the entrance to the cemetery At the cemetery the above ground vaults, the vaults buried at ground level...and those with a mere cross to mark the spot are tended to. They are painted and the weeds are cut and the sites are care-taken for another year. It's your families grave site, you take care of it. Like in the states, the more wealthy the family, the more elaborate the tomb. Nearby two old women tend the grave that is almost lost to time. When these women are gone, there will be no one to remember this grave. Markers will erode and the weeds will erase all trace. Other nearby sites are almost gone, only careful observation care tell that it is a grave. Soon the remnants of the site will be erased and the site will be sold anew. The new owners removing all remains and burying another loved at the place. Families gather and chat, snack and light candles, clean and paint what they can. Many vaults bear witness to grave robbing. Not for riches or jewelry but for kneecaps. Although a catholic country, the pagan religions and superstitions abound. Knee caps are thought to have wondrous powers, ground and eaten or worn as talismans. A banana tree bearing fruit grows from the side of one site, evidence of a family's snack from years ago. A foreigner will accompany his bride or girlfriend trying to show good manners, a family may consider it an honor to have a foreigner accompany them or they may wish to share this event and out of kindness invite him so that he is not alone on a holiday. This is the Memorial part of the holiday and soon will come the Thanksgiving part. The family nearest the cemetery will host the visitors, cooking what foods are brought, sharing their house and laughter. I flick a spent cigarette into a collapsed crypt and begin to leave.. It is near ten in the morning, the eating and drinking will begin. I don't want to miss it. |
#2
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On Nov 2, 7:20*am, "john b" wrote:
November 1st and November 2nd, All Saints Day and All Souls Day respectively. The 1st is a national holiday, rather like Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day all rolled into one. On the 1st, traditionally, the graves of the young are honored and on the 2nd, the graves of the adults are honored but mostly all are honored on the first. Locally, processions weave through the streets of the families on their way to the cemetery, all are holding candles...the smoke from the candle will keep evil spirits at bay. For the cemeteries farther from town..vendors selling candles and snacks line the road near the entrance to the cemetery At the cemetery the above ground vaults, the vaults buried at ground level...and those with a mere cross to mark the spot are tended to. They are painted and the weeds are cut and the sites are care-taken for another year. It's your families grave site, you take care of it. Like in the states, the more wealthy the family, the more elaborate the tomb. Nearby two old women tend the grave that is almost lost to time. When these women are gone, there will be no one to remember this grave. Markers will erode and the weeds will erase all trace. Other nearby sites are almost gone, only careful observation care tell that it is a grave. Soon the remnants of the site will be erased and the site will be sold anew. The new owners removing all remains and burying another loved at the place. Families gather and chat, snack and light candles, clean and paint what they can. Many vaults bear witness to grave robbing. Not for riches or jewelry but for kneecaps. Although a catholic country, the pagan religions and superstitions abound. Knee caps are thought to have wondrous powers, ground and eaten or worn as talismans. A banana tree bearing fruit grows from the side of one site, evidence of a family's snack from years ago. A foreigner will accompany his bride or girlfriend trying to show good manners, a family may consider it an honor to have a foreigner accompany them or they may wish to share this event and out of kindness invite him so that he is not alone on a holiday. This is the Memorial part of the holiday and soon will come the Thanksgiving part. The family nearest the cemetery will host the visitors, cooking what foods are brought, sharing their house and laughter. I flick a spent cigarette into a collapsed crypt and begin to leave.. It is near ten in the morning, the eating and drinking will begin. I don't want to miss it. Partying with dead people. I've heard that this has been done in various places and times. Sounds like a very good idea to me. The kneecap thing is news, though. Makes a boy wonder. I mean, skulls, yeah, for sure.....they're useful and you can talk to them. Thighbones can serve as weapons. Scapulas will do well enough as makeshift shovels. Tarsals and carpals and all those itty bitty things are dice....or portents or something. And we all know about the jawbone of an ass, right? But kneecaps? What the hell is that about? Say "Hi" to the neighbors for us. Tell them we miss them and wish we were there. Wolfgang who sincerely believes that more of this kind of stuff would do everyone a world of good. |
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Giles wrote in
: On Nov 2, 7:20*am, "john b" wrote: November 1st and November 2nd, All Saints Day and All Souls Day respectively. The 1st is a national holiday, rather like Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day all rolled into one. On the 1st, traditionally, the graves of the young are honored and on the 2nd, the graves of the adults are honored but mostly all are honored on t he first. Locally, processions weave through the streets of the families on their w ay to the cemetery, all are holding candles...the smoke from the candle will keep evil spirits at bay. For the cemeteries farther from town..vendors selling candles and snacks line the road near the entrance to the cemeter y At the cemetery the above ground vaults, the vaults buried at ground level...and those with a mere cross to mark the spot are tended to. They are painted and the weeds are cut and the sites are care-taken for another ye ar. It's your families grave site, you take care of it. Like in the states, the more wealthy the family, the more elaborate the tomb. Nearby two old women tend the grave that is almost lost to time. Wh en these women are gone, there will be no one to remember this grave. Marker s will erode and the weeds will erase all trace. Other nearby sites are alm ost gone, only careful observation care tell that it is a grave. Soon the remnants of the site will be erased and the site will be sold anew. The n ew owners removing all remains and burying another loved at the place. Families gather and chat, snack and light candles, clean and paint what t hey can. Many vaults bear witness to grave robbing. Not for riches or jewelry but for kneecaps. Although a catholic country, the pagan religions and superstitions abound. Knee caps are thought to have wondrous powers, grou nd and eaten or worn as talismans. A banana tree bearing fruit grows from the side of one site, evidence of a family's snack from years ago. A foreigner will accompany his bride or girlfriend trying to show good manners, a family may consider it an honor to have a foreigner accompany them or they may wish to share this event and out of kindness invite him so that he is not alone on a holiday. This is the Memorial part of the holid ay and soon will come the Thanksgiving part. The family nearest the cemetery will host the visitors, cooking what food s are brought, sharing their house and laughter. I flick a spent cigarette into a collapsed crypt and begin to leave.. It is near ten in the morning, the eating and drinking will begin. I don't want to miss it. Partying with dead people. I've heard that this has been done in various places and times. Sounds like a very good idea to me. The kneecap thing is news, though. Makes a boy wonder. I mean, skulls, yeah, for sure.....they're useful and you can talk to them. Thighbones can serve as weapons. Scapulas will do well enough as makeshift shovels. Tarsals and carpals and all those itty bitty things are dice....or portents or something. And we all know about the jawbone of an ass, right? But kneecaps? What the hell is that about? Say "Hi" to the neighbors for us. Tell them we miss them and wish we were there. Wolfgang who sincerely believes that more of this kind of stuff would do everyone a world of good. Wolfgang: AKA: Green Teeth (Giles) LOL ...... |
#4
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![]() "ScovilleUnit" wrote in message .. . Giles wrote in : On Nov 2, 7:20 am, "john b" wrote: November 1st and November 2nd, All Saints Day and All Souls Day respectively. The 1st is a national holiday, rather like Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day all rolled into one. On the 1st, traditionally, the graves of the young are honored and on the 2nd, the graves of the adults are honored but mostly all are honored on t he first. Locally, processions weave through the streets of the families on their w ay to the cemetery, all are holding candles...the smoke from the candle will keep evil spirits at bay. For the cemeteries farther from town..vendors selling candles and snacks line the road near the entrance to the cemeter y At the cemetery the above ground vaults, the vaults buried at ground level...and those with a mere cross to mark the spot are tended to. They are painted and the weeds are cut and the sites are care-taken for another ye ar. It's your families grave site, you take care of it. Like in the states, the more wealthy the family, the more elaborate the tomb. Nearby two old women tend the grave that is almost lost to time. Wh en these women are gone, there will be no one to remember this grave. Marker s will erode and the weeds will erase all trace. Other nearby sites are alm ost gone, only careful observation care tell that it is a grave. Soon the remnants of the site will be erased and the site will be sold anew. The n ew owners removing all remains and burying another loved at the place. Families gather and chat, snack and light candles, clean and paint what t hey can. Many vaults bear witness to grave robbing. Not for riches or jewelry but for kneecaps. Although a catholic country, the pagan religions and superstitions abound. Knee caps are thought to have wondrous powers, grou nd and eaten or worn as talismans. A banana tree bearing fruit grows from the side of one site, evidence of a family's snack from years ago. A foreigner will accompany his bride or girlfriend trying to show good manners, a family may consider it an honor to have a foreigner accompany them or they may wish to share this event and out of kindness invite him so that he is not alone on a holiday. This is the Memorial part of the holid ay and soon will come the Thanksgiving part. The family nearest the cemetery will host the visitors, cooking what food s are brought, sharing their house and laughter. I flick a spent cigarette into a collapsed crypt and begin to leave.. It is near ten in the morning, the eating and drinking will begin. I don't want to miss it. Partying with dead people. I've heard that this has been done in various places and times. Sounds like a very good idea to me. The kneecap thing is news, though. Makes a boy wonder. I mean, skulls, yeah, for sure.....they're useful and you can talk to them. Thighbones can serve as weapons. Scapulas will do well enough as makeshift shovels. Tarsals and carpals and all those itty bitty things are dice....or portents or something. And we all know about the jawbone of an ass, right? But kneecaps? What the hell is that about? Say "Hi" to the neighbors for us. Tell them we miss them and wish we were there. Wolfgang who sincerely believes that more of this kind of stuff would do everyone a world of good. Wolfgang: AKA: Green Teeth (Giles) LOL ...... I don't get it......john |
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