The Day of the Dead (
Día de los Muertos) continued for me into the next day as I
went to the cemetery with my wife to visit her ancestors. This is another ritual
of the Day of the Dead that is strongly embedded into Mexican culture. During
this visit I was amazed at how peaceful this place was. I found myself fascinated
by the way nature had taken back what man had placed there many years before. I
saw many decayed crosses throughout the cemetery while also viewing some new
ones. Some of the graves were very old and very simple. As simple as dirt and a
makeshift cross ... that’s all there was. So I thought about life and I thought about death. I felt a sense of time and history all around me. I also felt a close connection
to nature and God. It was as if I went back in time, or better yet, I was being
handed a few things to think about.
I don’t make a habit of walking through cemeteries and
taking pictures, but on this day it was different. As I walked around, I was
inspired by all the interesting crosses everywhere and what they represented. I felt I
needed to take pictures in this cemetery. Perhaps it was the best way for me to pay my
respects and remind myself what a gift life is.
Seas the day,
Robert Hansen
All photos copyright © Robert Hansen
No comments:
Post a Comment