By Jocelyn Carrillo Vela
Remembering the people who preceded us is something that in various cultures is considered primordial, today I will talk about what is celebrated in the state of Yucatan, in the country of Mexico: this celebration is known as Hanal Pixan translated as food of the animas (or souls), from Mayan language that is the culture that flourished in this land that today shelters Chichen Itza one of the 7 new wonders of the world.
This celebration lasts 3 days, from October 31 to November 2, and is in itself the result of a transculturation through the generations of the Mayan inhabitants and the Spanish conquerors, until reaching our days.
We have the belief that during these days the souls of our loved ones have permission to visit us and therefore we share different dishes and put on the tables the favorite things of the person or people.
Day 31st is dedicated to children and is called in Mayan “u hanal palal”, day 1st is dedicated to adults, in Mayan “u hanal nucuch uinicoob”, and day 2nd is called “u hanal pixanoob” or “pixan mass”, and it is on this third day where a mass dedicated to souls is held that can be held in the cemetery of the population.
During these days, a table with three levels is placed, at the top a green cross is placed that represents the tree of life for the Mayans, and in the subsequent levels depending on the day and the soul to which the altar is being offered we will place their photographs, it will depend, if it is dedicated to the children, colorful tablecloths will be placed, as well as candles, meals that they enjoyed, toys, and their belongings when they were with us; on the other hand if the table is for adults, the tablecloths will be white and the food and personal items will be placed on the tables; in Catholic families, we usually pray the rosary before eating what has been placed on the tables, we believe that our loved ones take the grace or essence of these foods during these days and that somehow we are all together again and enjoy these meals with them; and in the same way we also include a smaller table next to the previous mentioned table or at the door of the house, and we will place food for those souls who no longer have relatives who remember them but who also have permission to come during these days.
One of the main dishes we cook is called “pib” or “mukbil chicken” where muk means to bury or bury and “bil” means twist or stir, this dish is a tamale of an approximate size of 20 x 4 inches, which is prepared with achiote, tomato, onion, epazote, habanero chili, chicken, pork and its lard, as well as nixtamalized corn, all this is wrapped with banana leaves, which will be baked with hot stones in a pit that is dug into the ground; other foods that are placed on the altar are fruit, in particular known in Mayan with the word “Xek”, which is the combination of orange, mandarin and jicama, with lemon juice, salt and ground chili, usually different types of breads are placed, sweets are prepared with coconut, papaya, and typical dishes such as beans with pork, and cochinita pibil, drinks such as chocolate, coffee, soft drinks and liquors, one representative of Yucatan called “Balche”, which is made from the bark of the tree with the same name.
During all these years in which I have been able to experience year by year this celebration, I have reflected the following: Have you ever wondered everything in the universe that has had to happen for you to exist today?, as a person in this physical world, sometimes we believe that everything has been mere coincidence, however, I think that if you look carefully at the history of your ancestors and honor them, in one way or another we can accept that those who preceded us lived their lives and made their decisions, but at the same time all those efforts and those decisions do not define you either, and that you have a choice about where you choose to take that beautiful soul that dwells in you, then, you will know that everything that happened brought you here today, to read these words: Tell me what would happen if from one moment to the next you sit with those you still have with you, maybe a call, maybe a loaf and coffee, maybe a walk in the park, maybe and only maybe you discover things you didn’t know about them, maybe you hear for hundredth time the same story but that allows them to smile, or that they simply try to share something with you so that it doesn’t happen to you; we all come from our own experiences, from those beautiful experiences, from those that marked your life and their lives, from love and from what we can sometimes call tragedies because in the midst of chaos it is really difficult to find an explanation for things, if I am sure of anything it is that we are all experiences, then tell me why not? , keep that patience and that time for those who are still with us, one day, those hands, those lips, those hugs, will no longer be part of our days, and that is because it is part of the cycle of life, when we understand that no one is perfect, when we understand that everyone is living their own experience, and that his childhood and life was perhaps not simple, then, if we can add a little love to the movie of our life, maybe we will find a few sighs, a few tears that heal our souls, that give us understanding, or acceptance, then and only then, we can begin to move in the sense of love, and to smile every day, start with yourself, although sometimes it is heavy, sometimes it is light, find that love, in the sun, in some clouds, the sunset, in a wild flower, of those small and almost unnoticed, in that first conscious breath by the morning, please, have patience for you, have love for you, have a hug for you, and live, because you are here, thank you for being here, I wish you all the love and light of the universe, you are incredible.
References:
Hanal Pixán (yucatan.gob.mx)
El Pib tradición ancestral maya (pronaes.com)
