This blog post contains spoilers about the movie “Coco”. If you haven’t watched it yet, I would suggest reading this after you have!
Covered in Marigolds, bright colors, spirit guides, and family, this film is a great way to educate as well as entertain all ages. This sweet story tells us about Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead that is celebrated every year on November 1st.
Every year on November 1st, families lay out altars for their loved ones full of their favorite foods and other items alongside marigolds. It is a day of celebration, not mourning, as in the Mexican culture, death is a part of the circle of life. On November 1st and 2nd, it is believed that the souls of our dead loved ones come back to the world of the living.
Throughout the movie, one of the themes that kept coming up is the idea that we should keep those who have gone before us alive in our day to day lives. One of the main characters, Hector, has not been able to attend Day of the Dead celebrations in many years because no one has put his picture out on the ofrenda since he died. He is starting to disappear out of the land of the dead because no one alive is remembering him. We go on a journey throughout the movie to try to save Hector from completely disappearing. There are so many discussions about how we can continue to include those who have died in our day to day lives. Sometimes, this is by sharing stories of our loved ones and honoring them by having pictures throughout the home and on the ofrenda on November 1st.
Whether you choose to celebrate the Day of the Dead this year or not, I hope that you and your family can watch this movie and be able to have a conversation about how you can continue to honor and remember your loved one. You can still have a special place in the house like a shelf or table that can hold some pictures and favorite items of your loved one or that help you remember them. I’d love to hear about what you and your family decide to do! Be sure to share your thoughts and comments so we can all read your ideas.