Living with the Dead: Remembering Those Who Have Passed

Sometimes the loss of a loved-one can create more grief than a person can deal with alone. For that reason there are many traditions across the globe that have evolved over the centuries to guide us through the letting go process. As painful as it can be it also has the potential to be transformative, liberating, and healing while also bringing us closer to what it truly means to be alive. The All Souls Procession in Tucson, Arizona has been one of the most beautiful and expressive community experiences I have ever participated in. Below is a very brief history of the modern celebration along with ways that you can participate at home online via the live-stream or in person at the Tucson All Souls Procession.

“The ancients’ view of death was not a mournful one: they saw it as a part of the cycle of life, and celebrated the departed by leaving offerings on makeshift altars, or ofrendas, that would assist them in their onward trials.” -Simon Ingram

Original drawing of La Calavera Catrina, by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada circa 1910

The celebration that has evolved around this La Catrina archetype has many different expressions and traditions that incorporate ancient indigenous practices, Catholicism, Paganism (All Hallows Eve), All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and others. Regardless of the varied traditions the theme is the same… Humans need to have ways to explore their relationship with death, their ancestors, and their beliefs of the afterlife. We also need opportunities to express our emotions on this topic both privately and with our community in public.

José Guadalupe Posada’s central message with his art was that we are all equalized by death. Nobody escapes it. We are united across class, race, and religion when death knocks at our door. In this way grief and joy somehow merge like the spirits of the dead who are said to be dancing together with the living through eternity. The veil of separation is especially thin at this time of year.

With pictures of her relatives incorporated into her outfit and La Catrina face-paint she honors her ancestors at the Procession

These ideas become embodied and animated through altars, marigolds, candles, face-paint, fancy costumes, music, and dancing each year around this time. There is something about deepening one’s relationship with their inevitable death and those who have already passed that allows us to have a more joyous and passionate life. Perhaps it is the death of our fear that liberates us to truly live?

“It is both intangible and visceral, sacred and profane, somber and celebratory, painful and loving…and your ticket to get in —is your time…”

Tucson All Souls Procession is a community experience that honors the many varied traditions around this time and blends them into a spectacular shared expression. There are lots of different events throughout the city in the weeks/months leading up to the big weekend. So as to respect the November 1 local tradition of families visiting their relatives at a cemetary, All Souls Procession always occurs on the first Sunday of November after November 1.

“All of it is beautiful, but the most beautiful thing of all, to me, is that it is created by ordinary people, just like you and me, who come together to do this thing every year. We are ordinary people, but by coming together in this way, with a common heart and a common goal, we create something absolutely extraordinary. And to me, that is the most beautiful thing of all about the Tucson All Souls Procession.” — C. Meade

Little Angels: On the Saturday before the All Souls Procession and Finale’ the community gathers in Armory Park for the “Little Angels”. This is an opportunity for families who have lost a child to set up altars and for children to make angel wings, decorate sugar skulls, get their faces painted, and enjoy theatrical performances from Stories that Soar. The evening closes with a short lantern parade around the park.

Seeing children experience a healthy and supportive environment around the topic of death, writing letters to their deceased loved-ones (and sometimes to their pets who have passed), is priceless beyond measure. For a full list of happenings, please visit the official website where you can also download an app for the event. You can watch a full-length documentary by Leslie A. Epperson about the event titled, “Many Bones One Heart” here.

“The Procession is both therapeutic and healing. In our culture, we are very afraid of pain, and we do this thing where we try to avoid it and pretend its not there. This is a great way to help deal with it. It helps people feel like they aren’t alone in the depths of pain and loss.” — Dr. Karen McIntrye, Therapist

The Procession and Finale’: On Sunday people begin to gather for the procession around 4pm in their finest attire. The giant “urn” is pulled through the streets and everyone is welcome to place their written offering, prayer, or message into it. Then people follow the procession through the streets of Tucson for about 2 miles. Once the procession reaches its destination there is a pageant/performance as the urn is lifted by a crane high above the audience. During a spectacular aerial silks performances with Flam Chen the urn is ignited for a beautiful shared moment of gratitude and letting-go. There is an after-party with live music, DJ’s, music and dancing to follow the Finale’.

The geodesic urn (created by Creative Machines) is pictured above with a team of escorts and the procession behind it.

Participate at Home Online: This year the main festivities will occur on November 3-5 with the Procession and Finale’ happening on the 5th. The live stream will start at 6pm MST and can be viewed here on Facebook or if you want a more intimate viewing experience I recommend watching on PORTL. You are welcome to share the names of your loved ones and reflections/prayers in the chat. If you want to be extra creative you can make a ceremony at home while you watch the live stream online using candles, photos and flowers to build an altar an altar, then light your offering at the same time that the urn goes up in flames.

If you are wanting to involve your children there is a special kids e-book created by the event’s Artistic Director, Nadia Hagan. You can download the book in PDF format here (that you can print and view online), or if you have an IPad you can download the IBook here. This is a free community-powered event so donations are greatly appreciated as this helps support continued growth through education, outreach, and celebration year-round.

Photo of the urn hoisted high above the crowd going up in flames above and the Finale’ set below.

Shared Community: No matter who you are or where you are death is something that we all experience. We all have a long lone of ancestors who lived here before us and paved the way that we may be here today. In these way we are all connected in a shared community of the living. We all will leave this world one day too but while we are here we have a very blessed opportunity to celebrate this life together. Live stream starts at 6pm MST on November 5th, you can watch live stream here. Please join us this and every year as we celebrate All Souls together!