Día de Muertos, celebrated on November 1 and 2 around the world, is traditionally a time to honor our ancestors and those in our families and communities who have walked on into the spirit world. Today's celebration originated from an Aztec tradition known as Miccaihuitl and has evolved over thousands of years.

When the Spanish arrived on Indigenous shores, now known as the Americas, they brought Christianity and Catholicism with them. They attempted to convert Indigenous Peoples and suppress Indigenous spirituality and ceremony. In some instances, they tried to combine their own religions with traditional Indigenous practices, resulting in modern-day celebrations such as Día de Muertos and Halloween, a celebration observed in many countries on the eve of All Saints' Day, October 31. Today, Día de Muertos is a combination of the traditional honoring of our ancestors, with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

As we celebrate Halloween and Día de Muertos, we honor our Indigenous sisters and brothers from whom these traditions originate.

In prayer and remembrance...