Sugar, Colonialism, and Death: On the Origins of Mexico's Day of the Dead
Sugar, Colonialism, and Death: On the Origins of Mexico's Day of the Dead
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糖、殖民主义和死亡：墨西哥亡灵节的起源
DOI：
10.1017/s0010417500020624
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发表时间：
1997
影响因子：
0.7
通讯作者：
S. Brandes
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
S. Brandes
毫无疑问，墨西哥最著名的节日是亡灵节。10月底，大批外国游客涌向墨西哥，见证丰富多彩的--有人会说是嘉年华--的仪式表演和艺术展示。装饰面包、剪纸和塑料玩具随处可见，其中大多数都是以死亡为主题的幽默游戏。头骨、骨架和棺材形状的雕刻糖糖暗示着一种几乎不敬的、可怕的与死亡的对抗。在11月1日至11月2日期间，墨西哥人会对亲属的坟墓进行清洁、装饰和守夜。墓碑和墓地上装饰着鲜花、蜡烛和食物，所有这些都是为了纪念逝者而布置的。一些墨西哥人声称，逝者的灵魂在这几天里守护着他们活着的亲人。疏忽的家庭成员等待着惩罚，无论是在地球上还是在来世。这一信念在整个墨西哥都被用来解释在为期两天的仪式上投入的大量时间、金钱和精力。
Mexico's most famous holiday is, without doubt, the Day of the Dead. At the end of October, large numbers of foreign visitors descend upon Mexico to witness colorful—some would say carnivalesque—ritual performances and artistic displays. Decorated breads, paper cutouts, and plastic toys, most of them humorously playing on the theme of death, are evident everywhere. Sculpted sugar candies in the form of skulls, skeletons, and caskets suggest an almost irreverent, macabre confrontation with mortality. During November 1 and November 2, Mexicans clean, decorate, and maintain vigil over the graves of relatives. Tombstones and burial sites are adorned with flowers, candles, and food, all aesthetically arranged in honor of the deceased. Some Mexicans claim that the souls of the departed watch over their living relatives during these few days. Negligent family members await punishment, whether on earth or in the afterlife. This belief is invoked throughout Mexico to explain the substantial time, money, and energy invested in the two-day ceremony.