VL Opinion: Attention Hipsters: Our Holidays Are Not Just an Excuse for you to get loaded

Tue25Oct2005

VL Opinion: Attention Hipsters: Our Holidays Are Not Just an Excuse for you to get loaded

I’m sure Gothamist meant well today when they suggest

getting a group together to taste everything (and share a pitcher of margaritas) or make a crawl out of this, after all we're celebrating a return to the land of the living, to eating, drinking and making the most of it

While I am all for cultural exploration in the form of learning about and trying things from various cultures, it’s cultural appropriation I have a problem with. Too many people seem to think that Latino culture comes in two flavors: margaritas and mojitos. This idea seems to be especially popular on days of historical importance like Cinco de Mayo (which by the way is neither Mexican Independence Day nor an excuse for hipsters to don a cheap sombrero and sing “la cucaracha”).

Día de los Muertos is not chile flavored Halloween. It is a holiday and a tradition that has its roots in the mestisaje of spiritual and cultural practices of indigenous peoples and Spanish conquest. It is a day to honor the ancestors.

Wanna learn more about Día de los Muertos and don’t have any authentic Mexican friends to ask? Local museums such as el Museo del Barrio in NYC are sponsoring events. You can also check out Mexconnect.com for some background.

Via / Gothamist

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Maegan la Mala

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1. Jennifer Woodard Maderazo ~ Tuesday, Oct 25 2005 | 20:33H:

They may have meant well, but the suggestion of "making a crawl" out of a tradition that was meant to honor people's dearly departed family members is not only ignorant but insulting. Has anyone ever heard of the concept of "All Saints Days". Who would possibly associate that with getting hammered?

Global Voices Online ~ Wednesday, Nov 02 2005 | 21:22H:

November 1st and 2nd mark Mexico’s holiday, Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead.” Calypso Mexico describes celebrating the days in a small colonia in Vera Cruz, emphasizing that “Dia de los Muertos is about remembering you...

Read more in Mexico: Día de los Muertos »

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