Folkloric Ballet

''THE CHILD DEATH''

There is no pain comparable to that of losing a child, in fact there is no name to call a mother that loses her little one. The person who loses his parents is an orphan, a widower or a widow is a person who loses a wife or husband, but the fact of losing a child born from your womb, blood of your blood, is so unnatural and so thoroughly devastating that there is not even a name to call such an undesirable state of being.

In many of the provinces of Mexico, the tradition still prevails to take pictures of the children who die prematurely, dressing them up as saints or angels and posing with their parents or family members.

It is the graphic testimony of their transformation into a heavenly creature. During the burial, neither the mother nor any other of the attendees can cry so that the child’s soul does not have to come back to pick up the tears. During the wake ritual, the mourners open up their houses so everyone can see the altar full of flowers and the banquet being served to the attendees, friends and neighbors, who bring candles and try to distract the parents´ pain with their good cheer. They believe or want to believe that, when a child dies at such a young age, it is because God wants him back in heaven as an angel. Infant deaths in Mexico are very frequent even today, due to the poverty and isolation many areas of the country live in, and those rituals and beliefs help people find comfort and overcome a tragic loss in a magical and colorful way, although in no way less painful to a mother.

As children are pure and innocent, their spirit goes directly into paradise and one must not cry nor complain, as it was God’s will to welcome the child into his company and, from heaven, he will make sure the family is protected from all evil.

The photographs one finds of dead infants are usually grim and, more often than not, terrifying. Despite the beautiful clothes and adornments on the child, looking at a lifeless child is spine chilling, much more than it would be if it were an adult. A life cut short at such a young age always leaves a bitter taste of confusion.

Paintings usually try to make the sad and pale look of the departed less evident, although this does not take away from the pictorial realism, the exquisite garments, with gauzes and gold appliqués, embroideries and lace, are true works of art.

The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, true to her heart-wrenching and tragic vision of life, seized the theme as her own to paint “The diseased Dimas Rosas at three years of age.” In some towns in Spain it was also a tradition to make a portrait of the dearly departed, hoping to keep their memory alive, but this tradition faded with time many years ago. Now we want to remember our dearly departed exactly as they were in life and so, before the wake, those in charge of the thanatopraxis make sure to leave the body looking as true to life as possible. These experts renovate, embalm, clean and apply makeup to the bodies so that they look their best during the wake. Sometimes much talent and much effort is needed specially when working with people who have died a violent death such as an accident, because sometimes it is necessary to reconstruct skin and bone structure on the face by using cotton padding and delicate sutures.

As part of the celebrations of the 6th festival of Life and Death Traditions, and as a tribute to the innocent children who have passed away, the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México Aztlán (Mexico’s National Folkloric Ballet) directed by Silvia Lozano is staging their Puchurku Parakata (Sweet Butterfly) presentation.

Mexicans have made death a celebration and one of the most unique festivities comes about when a child dies, as there is no reason to be sad, it is rather a moment to celebrate, to sing, to dance, as the little angel has been called to God’s side and, from there, will take care of and bless his parents and siblings who stayed behind on earth.

The state of Michoacán is without a doubt a region full of traditions and customs that bring Mexican idiosyncrasy to light.

The wake of a little angel, in this state and several others in Mexico, has its own unique characteristics, as all the rituals such as dressing and getting the child ready, placing garlands on his head and creating the altar where the body will be placed, as well as the way people come to be with the family, all become intertwined until they give way to a grand celebration of music and dance, a celebration of life and hope.

45min. - November 1st & 2nd 16:15hrs Esplanade.