Llewllyn's Little Book of The Day of the Dead, by Jaime Gironés
Celebrate the revered Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos with this beautiful little book. Packed with activities, recipes, spells, and rituals, this pocket-sized guide (well, large pocket!) is a must-have tool for honoring the sacred dead. Author Jaime Gironés shares authentic ways to respectfully enjoy this holiday, from creating an altar to baking Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead). Recipes and activities also include the making of paper marigolds and papel picado.
Sharing his personal experiences and recommendations, Jaime, who is from Mexico City, guides us through the Day of the Dead's origins, history, and modern celebrations. Discover how to build an ofrenda, set out your ancestors' favorite foods, and invite the spirits to a feast. Explore the significance of marigolds, sugar skulls, and monarch butterflies. You'll also learn how to say goodbye when celebrations are over. This book provides everything needed to honor the dead and share your love and abundance with them.
One of the best parts of the book, if you ask us, is the Author's Note in the opening pages, in which Jaime discusses cultural appropriation and its difference from cultural appreciation: an important topic for a holiday, like Dia de Los Muertos, which has become so popular outside the place of its origins. Jaime guides us through good questions that help us evaluate our personal approach to the celebration and that help us determine whether we are celebrating in a respectful way.
A compact compendium of well-curated info, experience, and insight into Mexico's Día de los Muertos holiday by an authentic practitioner; the perfect starting point for people of all backgrounds who are new and curious about our culture's ancient celebration as well as a great resource guide for the experienced and adept who are well familiar with Underworld and ancestral magic. — Tomás Prower, author of La Santa Muerte
Jaime Gironés dispels some of the myths around this cultural phenomenon and offers simple methods to honor this holiday, regardless of your own cultural background. Gironés gives us context by examining the history as well as the multifaceted practices and lore necessary to have a balanced understanding of this important and culturally rich celebration. — Storm Faerywolf, author of The Witch's Name
Jaime Gironés is a charming and wise guide to exploring the Day of the Dead traditions, sharing the past and present while acknowledging the living traditions of the future with a variety of activities the reader can do. He deftly handles such topics as the line between appreciation and appropriation; the ancestors' ability to appear at more than one altar at the same time; and most importantly, our fears, grief, and relationship with death, all while joyfully taking us through the celebration. —Christopher Penczak, author of The Temple of Witchcraft series
196 pages. Hardcover, 2021.
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