I am honored and blessed to be back in Bolivia to celebrate the day of “Todos Santos,” or “All Saint’s Day.” Here in Bolivia, more attention is given to All Saint’s Day as a religious holiday than to Halloween as a secular one, and their devotion shows through the remembrance of the deceased friends and family members that one has loved and lost. A special table is set during the holiday, with favorite foods of our loved ones whose lives are being honored, and tribute is given to their importance in our lives with prayers and Bolivian traditions. First, an opening prayer is given in which everyone has the opportunity to voice the name(s) of their loved ones whom they would like to remember, and several additional prayers are recited. In CUBE, we recited three “Padre Nuestro’s,” or “Our Father’s,” and three “Ave Maria’s” or “Hail Mary’s.” Then, a little bit of fun is mixed with a whole lot of tradition, as small groups have the opportunity to say a special prayer for their loved ones over a selected special food or “masita,” which is a piece of bread especially baked for the celebration of Todos Santos. After each individual has the opportunity to pray for their loved one(s), they win the prize of the food over which they prayed, so it is important to be one of the first to offer your special prayer if you have a special food in mind that you would like to take home in tribute to your “difunto,” or loved one who has passed away. Although it is traditional for most Bolivian celebrations to end in dancing, this is not something I witnessed on All Saint’s Day, as it seemed to be a more solemn event that was focused on reverence of loved ones and prayer. Every time I participate in a Bolivian tradition, I am uplifted by the way that faith is seamlessly interwoven into the culture, whether we are celebrating Christian or Andean traditions, and I am blessed by the opportunity to practice my faith openly and with courage. Although there is respect for unique beliefs and world views, the fact that such a strong foundation of faith is practiced in this time in our world is refreshing, and something that I believe we could learn how to rekindle in our home country, where so much importance is placed on individualism that the beauty of a simple prayer can sometimes be overlooked. Thank you as always for journeying with me to Bolivia, and for breaking bread in spirit and truth as we share our experiences and our love.
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AuthorValerie Ellis, who is in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement and everyone whose life is impacted, now or before, by times of social injustice. Archives
July 2022
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