Comments on: Are white people turning Dia de los Muertos into a bummer?

By: one

one — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 01:53:58 +0000

For years the procession was quiet and somber and along a different route. Everyone carried candles and most had pictures or signs with the names of loved ones. The last time the procession went the old route there was a giant puppet skeleton surrounded by Burning Man folks whooping it up – how could I tell? Stupid costumes.

And since then, wherever I look, there are always bros drinking beer like it’s a fraternity party. I saw fewer costumes this go around tho. Maybe last year’s dud with a Viking helmet and a six-pack got the memo.

Dear upper class newcomers: Learn something about DdLM traditions, act accordingly, then people will respect you for showing respect. If you carry on like it’s Burning Fucking Man, don’t whine that you’re a victim of racism should you be self-aware enough to notice you are not universally loved. It’s not that you’re white (typically) and/or snotty. It’s that you’re a classist tool, a damn fool and not cool. Solution? Start with manners, even if you think they’re “wasted” on someone you consider beneath you. If you don’t feel it, just pretend they’re Stanford graduates. Stop slumming. Take 3 seconds to look up the term “noblesse oblige.” Regards.

Btw, Dia de Los Muertos is observed all over Latin America and Spain. It’s not exclusive to Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo? It’s a marketing scheme from the 80s to promote beer. Genius.

Yo, MM, no charge.

By: one

one — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 23:02:55 +0000

Of course everybody celebrates Cinco de Mayo – it only took off when marketers used it to promote beer. Beer transcends race, duh. A little alcohol poisoning brings everybody together.

By: nigga jim x

nigga jim x — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 06:35:55 +0000

kill whitey!!!!

By: nigga jim x

nigga jim x — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 06:33:18 +0000

first you fake whiteys come here witout even a slaveship then you expect us to learn your tratitions

By: Native

Native — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 05:38:36 +0000

First you need to learn that its not a holiday!

By: Native

Native — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 05:36:41 +0000

The point is we need to educate people about our culture and traditions. I have seen the change over the years in the mission with dia de los Muertos and its very sad.
The change I feel is taking away what the tradition is really about. For one, its not a parade or mardi gras, or Mexican Holloween, or a circus or burning man or Carnaval. People should really learn about it and give it the respect for what it is and not change it.

By: Native

Native — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 05:26:52 +0000

Thats the whole point of people changing what is really is. You just did it. Its not a holiday anywhere!

By: Fon

Fon — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:36:22 +0000

you are right, no body owns it, but white america has destroyed it. Deal with it.

By: Fon

Fon — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:35:02 +0000

I see the changes in DDLM as another excuse for whites and ‘the model minority’ to dress up and get fucked up.

You can do that in Halloween, but no on DDLM… But, just like 5 de Mayo, which the whites uses to get fucked up! the Mexicans feels they are taking maters off the tangent.See, they take a Mexican festivity and celebrate it, but no way Jose they will support any immigration reform. No mames!

Just like Europeans think, and the latinos prefer to be silent about it, everything that white america takes over is ruined. They commercialize it, they over do it, they add heavy amounts of alcohol, drugs, party you call it…

By: allsaintsday

allsaintsday — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 06:21:06 +0000

Thank you. You said it better than me. Altars, flowers, candles, family, folklore and even skulls can be found over much of the European continent on this day. After all these years the origins of this celebration bind more than they exclude.

By: allsaintsday

allsaintsday — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 06:12:07 +0000

Day of the Dead exists in white European culture! Shocker! Except it is not called “Dia De Los Muertos” but All Saints Day (The same title given to the celebration in Puerto Rico). In Austria, for example, there is an entire week called “All Souls Week” where graves are decorated with flowers and candles and the barrier between the dead and the living becomes blurred (¿suena familiar?). This week and, specifically, All Saints Day involves celebration, costumes, family and festivities. You know what else is prevalent in Austria and much of Europe – decorated skulls! These traditions can be found many places in the world with a history of Catholicism. So, just like Austria which has pagan roots it is likely Mexico’s Dia de Los Muertos tradition has its origins in Catholicism. And, correct me if I’m wrong, but Catholicism was brought to Mexico by Europeans. My point is, nobody OWNS this holiday and nobody is committing an act of disrespect by celebrating this holiday.

By: mamiel

mamiel — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:27:47 +0000

Indeed, there is way too much nuance to go around with this argument!

By: mamiel

mamiel — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:26:17 +0000

I said Anglos! Not white people. There are many white Latinos, try visiting Argentina or Chile or even Puerto Rico some day.

So a white Argentinian with an Italian surname has the right to call the Day of the Dead “her” holiday whereas an Italian American from Brooklyn cannot? Explain the nuance to me. Why is this De Leon’s holiday as a Puerto Rican American? Is this or is it not a Mexican holiday based on indiginous traditions?

By: troll

troll — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:20:03 +0000

Oh no, all latinos are the same and all white people people are the same. Don’t confuse things with nuance

By: mamiel

mamiel — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:25:30 +0000

I always believed that the Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday (OK probably Guatemalan too) that is based in part on Catholic traditions and Aztec or Toltec observances of ancestors and the dead.

I’ve never seen it as simply a “Latino” tradition. To do that eliminates the Mexican indiginous tradition of the holiday.

de Leon is trying to co -opt it as “her” holiday based on the fact that she has Puerto Rican heritage but I’m not buying it. I’m glad its been shared with her as it has been shared with Anglos in the community. But it is not “hers”