Prof. José Luis Felipe Rodríguez Palacios
Chronicler of San Miguel de Allende
Translation: Metro News Mx
“Is it truly possible to live on Earth?
Not forever on Earth—only a little while here.
Even if it is jade, it breaks;
even if it is gold, it shatters;
even if it is quetzal feathers, they tear;
not forever on Earth—only a little while here.”
Nahuatl poem
Around the single word “death,” humanity has expressed itself through painting, sculpture, architecture, theater, music, dance, food, and more.
Mestizaje is, for many, the blending of Indigenous and Spanish heritage. But if we consider all the ethnic groups that have existed not only throughout the Americas but also within the current territory of the Republic—and add to the Spanish origin the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Suebi, Vandals, Alans, Visigoths, and above all the Arab influence—we can uncover a rich vein to explore the origins of customs and traditions.
The Arabs introduced the idea of offering food annually to the dead, but they learned it from the Egyptians. Perhaps the Celts are also part of this origin, as the last day of their calendar coincides with November 1st, a date on which they honored their deceased. In several waves, they invaded the Iberians, ancient inhabitants of the peninsula.
In addition, the Nahuas celebrated the feast of the little dead (Micailhuitzintli) and, in the tenth month, the feast of the great dead (Hueymicailhuitzintli). These commemorations were also tied to the agricultural cycle, as frosts arrived around this time. The Indigenous people feared them, and according to the chronicler Durán: “they prepared with offerings, oblations, and sacrifices.”
In Spanish tradition, November was considered the month of the souls, to whom tribute was paid in various forms. Indigenous peoples and the invaders thus established a syncretism that, through diverse expressions, allows us to trace a cultural axis now revealed in studies of their civilizations’ manifestations.
Locally, Don Félix Luna mentions that in addition to honoring children and adults on November 1st and 2nd, some communities also celebrated October 31st as the *Day of the Thistles*, dedicated to the unborn, who were also commemorated.
Trying to reach a single point of understanding about the meaning of offerings to the dead is like trying to hold water in the palms of our hands. Each community, each family, expresses its version as the authentic one, which naturally confuses the observer. The elements vary, and even those that coincide are interpreted differently, though they often stem from the same intention.
Tradition is slipping away in the face of the invasion of facets foreign to our idiosyncrasy. Based on form, we can infer its Chichimeca origin and, in our region, Otomí. In Chiapas, the Chamula retreats to a corner, lights candles, and converses with their dead. In some communities, the fear of being photographed persists, due to the belief that possessing one’s image allows someone to take control of it.
Profile
José Luis Felipe Rodríguez Palacios is 71 years old. He studied at the Primary Normal School in San Miguel de Allende; earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education with a specialization in Social Sciences from the Normal Superior of Querétaro; and a Master’s Degree in Educational Sciences from the Pedagogical Institute of Graduate Studies in Celaya, Guanajuato.
He worked for the Guanajuato Department of Education (SEG) as a teacher, principal, supervisor, and sector chief. He is now retired. Since 2011, he has served as Municipal Chronicler. He participates on XHSQ FM, 103.3. On social media, he maintains a blog on Facebook and Instagram. He has published articles on the history and traditions of San Miguel in various magazines.
Books published: Los Locos, una realidad de locura (2018) and Los Imagineros de San Miguel de Allende (2021). #MetroNewsMx #GuanajuatoDesconocido
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