The Insatiable Appetite of the Days of the Dead

In Proverbs, Agur describes death as something that is never satisfied – that never says “Enough!” (Proverbs 30:15-16). It’s like a fire somehow – the more it gets fed, the more it seems to grow.

We’ve talked often about the Day of the Dead (or Days) here in Mexico. The holiday itself seems to have an insatiable appetite, like death itself.

In our time in Mexico, we’ve seen it swallow up the darker aspects of Hallowe’en (see this post from five years ago – Hallowe’en In Mexico (like never before). With the promotion of the holiday in the movie Spectre (which invented the never-before-seen Day of the Dead parade), and then later the Disney/Pixar movie Coco, the holiday gained newfound fame. The confusion of beliefs and false hope it brings spread even further.

But it’s still hungry, and it’s not done yet.

Let’s see how we can throw a love of dogs (I love dogs) into the mix. Yes, there is a way.

For this we’ll start in Nepal, where one of the most popular celebrations is a festival of lights known as Tihar (also celebrated in parts of India, and related to a similar festival called Diwali). It falls in October or November each year (changing because of the phases of the moon).

The festival is focused around the Hindu god of death, and the Hindu goddess of wealth/fortune. These and other gods are worshipped through various rituals during the five day celebration.

After the initial worship of crows as the messengers of death (day 1), we get to day 2 – known as Kukur Tihar. On this day, dogs are worshipped as protectors of the house, and representatives of the god of death (or perhaps an incarnation of the god of death himself).

Due to the propitious timing of the holiday (around the Days of the Dead), the popularity of dogs in Mexico, and the solid connection to the worship of death, Kukur Tihar came to Mexico in a big way in 2016.

A perfect addition to the Days of the Dead – a belief in the return of the spirits of adults, and children – now we can add dogs to the mix.

A garland of flowers around the dog’s neck represent the prayers that are prayed to the dog (marigolds – which in Mexico are known as the “flowers of the dead”). Paint on the dogs head mark them as an object of devotion. A food offering is also given.

With a modest start in 2016 (with 200 people attending in Mexico City), the celebration has grown not only in Mexico City but elsewhere.

Many in Mexico worship their own “god of death” known as Saint Death, which is also highlighted around this time of year.

Many cultures seek ways to appease death, often through some form of death worship. But death will never be appeased. Instead, we look to the true God, who has power over death, and the one Saviour that He has given. We look to the future reality, when we will say – Death is swallowed up in victory! (1 Corinthians 15:54)