One thing we can all agree upon, is that when it comes to Halloween, Wash Park doesn’t mess around with outdoor decorations. In fact, one of our favorite traditions is to take the kids up and down Gaylord Street to trick or treat and mingle with our neighbors. Our kids fill their buckets to the brim and we have our fair share of wine along the way.
For us, the fun of the season doesn’t end on Oct. 31st. We’ve been collecting Day of the Dead relics for as long as we can remember, and have enjoyed watching this cultural tradition seep into events in and around Denver. Dia De Los Muertos is a celebration rich in history and culture, as it dates back an estimated 3000 years. You can’t deny the fact that any holiday that encourages costumes, great food and music will surely thread its way into Western tradition eventually.
Not to be confused with Halloween, Day of the Dead is ordinarily celebrated on Nov. 1st and 2nd. and is meant to celebrate life, rather than haunt the living. In fact, Day of the Dead is considered a larger holiday than even Christmas, in its native Mexico.
What really stands out, is the level of importance placed on remembering the ones we’ve lost. The tradition of painting your face as a skeleton, is to give the deceased a feeling that they are not alone. Regardless of where your religious beliefs fall, Dia De Los Muertos is special in that it doesn’t allow you to forget. Which in and of itself offers a warm comfort. So the next time you see a Day of the Dead celebration happening in Denver, we hope you see it for more than face paint and skeletons, but rather a uniquely beautiful way to recount memories and images of our dear ones who are no longer with us.
It is when we embrace the cultures of others that we are able to have a stronger understanding of one another. Something that is so very important today. In this issue our feature artist, Dolan Geiman makes a similar connection with his detailed collages. He ties together tiny bits and pieces of long forgotten stories to make one beautifully cohesive piece. We hope you enjoy this issue.
Your neighbors – Sam & Shaleen DeStefano