Avescope Memento Mori

deceased relative preferred when they were alive.
The dishes are placed in clay plates because people
believe that the spirit pulls the essence or substance
from the food but the clay plates conserve the flavor,
so later, when the celebration is over, the family is
able to enjoy the food without losing its tastiness.
A very important dish that is cooked for this
celebration is the “pib” or “mucbipollo” which is
essentially a big tamale filled with chicken and pork,
lard and “achiote” which is condiment that gives the
pib it’s characteristic red color. Normally, the altar
has three pibs that represent the three stones the
Mayan women used to use to cook, basically
representing the hearth of the Mayan home.
Aside from the pib, a beverage called “Balché” that is
elaborated by fermented roots of the tree with the
same name as the drink and honey, is also placed on
the altar. It is the sacred drink of the Mayan people
and they are placed in “jícaras” which are halves of
the dried-up shell from the “Jícaro” fruit, similar to a
coconut but smoother. Four of these beverages are
put on the four corners of the middle table because
the Mayans say “one does not know from what
corner of the world a spirit will arrive from.”
It’s important to leave small balls of dough if you
have a pet in the family. This way, when the spirit
arrives, he can feed it to the pet so they won’t be
barked at and can continue their celebration in
peace.
Water and salt are also placed on the table and this
is done for numerous reasons; they signify purity
and are used to clean the soul. Water represents the
origin of life and salt is used for protection, casting
away the bad vibes that follow some souls.
Different objects pertaining to the person's hobbies
are also added, whether it be cigarettes for an old
grandfather, a silver comb from a mother's
collection or even a bottle of tequila for a festive
uncle. In addition to the objects the spirits used or
owned when the were alive, it’s important to add an
image of the soul, because it’s important to
represent the relatives. If the family wishes to
receive spirits that don’t have families or have been
forgotten, they must leave a clay piece in the shape
of a donut that tells the spirits that this household
will receive any soul, regardless of them being
relatives.
As a religious addition, a green cross is placed on the
highest table. The green cross symbolizes hope, and
it is made from the bark of the sacred Mayan tree,
“ceiba.” This tree is believed to connect the heavens
and the underworld to earth. Incense is also placed
in a chalice next to the cross because the smoke
and smell makes the meal more welcoming.
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