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November: Commemoration of the Dead in Argentina |
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Argentina is a vast country containing diverse cultures; because of this All Souls Day is not celebrated in one particular way but varies from area to area
and from one social class to another. Where there is a strong
cosmopolitan flavour along the eastern area the indigenous traditions
have been absorbed by european customs, especially by Italian and
Spanish customs.
However, in all parts prayer for the dead is to the fore, more by the
attitude of faith in relation to the mystery of death than with regard
to the rituals themselves.
The people “feel” a sense of closeness to their beloved dead, and have
a conviction that they ‘live', that help can be received from them and
at times they need the prayer and remembrance of the living.
The celebration of this day does not pass unnoticed and almost takes
over from the feast of All Saints. It unites all social classes in one
celebration.
The evening before begins with a big gathering in the cemetery; flowers
are brought, tombs, niches and mausoleums are tidied up and prayers are
said.
On the 2 November the cemetery is a mass of people and a garden of
flowers. The priest blesses the places followed in procession by the
people and afterwards celebrates the Eucharist.
Where there is no priest, this moment is led by a “prayer person”. She
is the person who leads the obsequies at wakes or funerals and helps
the bereaved to enter into prayer.
The Christian tradition of the people expresses in symbol that the
cemetery is not the place where life ends but is the space in which the
remains of a beloved person rest and this helps to remind us of what
that person meant to family and friends.
In other parts of the country, influenced by indigenous traditions,
this celebration can be expressed very colourfully and picturesquely,
but in all places, the general sense of the ritual speaks of faith and
of transcendence, in the certainty that death is a passing to life and
fullness. For the people, All Souls Day is a commitment to be present
in the place where mortal remains are guarding the mystery of death and
keeping watch in the secure knowledge of resurrection.
Hermana Matilde Franchino, OP
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Quiet Space