Earth Dance International - www.earthdance.org
September 11-21
11 Days Of Global Unity -www.wetheworld.org
                               Saturday, October 2, 2008
      Make a Difference Day - www.makeadifferenceday.com
August 29-September 1, 2008
2nd Annual Midwest Shamanic Gathering, Fall Creek, WI
www.midwestshamanicgathering.com
                                                                         
                                                                            ALL SOUL'S DAY, DAY OF THE DEAD
                                                                 November2
                                                                    October 31, Preparation
                                                                   November 1, Deceased Infants, Children
                                                                   November 2, Deceased Adults

All Soul's Day and Day of the Dead  are celebrated on November 1 to honor deceased children and infants(Day of the Innocents
or Day of the Little Angels) and November 2 to honor deceased adults.  Many believe on these days it is easier for the souls of the
departed to visit the living.  People will go to cemeteries to communicate with the souls of the departed or have celebrations at
their home with altars, favorite foods and beverages, and photos and memorabilia, of the departed.  The intent is to encourage
visits by the departed so that they will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them.  Celebrations can have
humorous tone, while celebrants remember funny events about the departed.

All Soul's Day
A day to honor, celebrate and remember our loved ones who have passed from this world.
  • Participants gather, each bringing a favorite food of an ancestor they wish to honor.
  • They bring flowers to strew on the path to the front door.
  • Light candles (spicy or fruity fragrance is great) on the steps and in the house.
  • Burn incense.
  • The dining table is the altar on which each person puts a photo or memory object of their deceased loved one.
  • Prayers for the spirits being honored are given by each person.
  • A special plate is on the table which is passed to place some of the food each person has brought.
  • Stories, memories, are shared about the deceased, the loved ones, they have invited to the evening honoring celebration.  It
    is a celebration of their loved one's life remembered.
  • While the stories are being told, all enjoy the meal consisting of the departed soul's favorite foods.
  • Drumming, flute playing, dancing, laughing, celebrating is done after the meal.  Doing this celebration around a bon fire is
    especially honoring.

  • The plate of food that was prepared for the loved ones can be placed in one of the following ways:
     1.  Participate in "fire ceremony",  by gifting the fire either tobacco, oil, prayer stick, and praying for your loved ones.           
         End with leaving the plate of food by the fire.  Plate is retrieved in the morning.
     2.  Without the fire, the plate may be place outside in a special place, altar or table and then retrieved in the morning.
     3.  The plate is left on the altar for the night and the food is taken to nature in the morning.

  • Close the evening with prayers for the ancestors known and unknown and pray for their journey back to the time outside of
    time.

Traditionally, after the meal, flowers, candles, the food for the ancestors are taken to the cemetery where dancing and celebrating
is done.  That works in a community where there is one local cemetery. (I try to go to the cemetery of my ancestors close to All
Soul's Day and have a picnic of foods my family liked.  I bring a candle and some flowers, my mesa, a rattle and say quiet prayers and
sing.  I also journey to the spirit of my ancestors, and speak with my parents)


Andean All Soul's Day
In the Aymara (an indigenous people) of southern Peru, lake Titicaca area, "wawa" refers to being small.  T'ant'a wawas, loaves of
bread shaped like men, women or children, represent departed loved one.  They plan an important role in a yearly religious
observance called Tague Santun Arupa, which occurs at the time of the Catholic celebration of All Soul's Day but dates back to
pre Hipanic times.  During a three-day ceremony, the spirits of the dead are coaxed into visiting the living and then into returning
once again to the cemetery.  The path leading to the hom e has flowers strewn to give special invitation to the spirits.  Every family
prepares T'ant'a wawa and urpus (loaves formed into animals and other symbolic shapes) to display on the tumpulu
(commemorative altar) in their home.  They make some for themselves and some to give as gifts to friends and relatives.

On October 31, the house is thoroughly cleaned and the tumpulu is set up and adorned with candles, pictures of the deceased
and their favorite foods and beverages.  The air is fragrant with incense, burnt to attract the spirits.  At noon on November 1, the
family gathers to receive the spirits, tell memories of ancestors, prepare a plate of foods for the spirits and place it on the altar,
and to partake of the feast of special dishes such as peanut soup and guinea pig or chicken roasted with chilies and fresh
herbs.  Then, in the afternoon, the children are sent to visit other relatives and friends.  When they arrive at someone's house,
they pray for the person who is being commemorated there and are given a t'tant'a wawa, dried fruit, sweets or perhaps a whole
meal in return.  While the children are off visiting, the parents stay at home to receive the youngsters who will come to pray at
their house.  That night the adults stay up until dawn with the visiting spirits to keep them company.

On November 2 the commemoration moves to the cemetery in order to return the spirits once again to their resting places.  Each
family brings their tumpulu, (decorative altar) and the normally quiet graveyard is filled with life.  People crowd around
tombstones, setting up the tumulus and praying for the dead.  Prayers are sung and groups of men play flutes and drums, sacred
instruments played only for Taque Santum Arupa.  The affect is overwhelming.  At noon, the people depart, and the well-nourished
and honored spirits are left to rest in peace for another year.

T'ant'a Wawas (Loaves of bread shaped like men, women or children)
Some bread bakers in the Andes give their loaves a distinctive flavor by boiling the water to be used in the bread with chamomile,
mint, and a sprinkling of anise seed.  You could use 1 to 2 herbal tea bags.  They then strain the water and allow it to cool until
tepid.

1 cup tepid water, flavored or plain
1 pkg dry yeast or 1 tbls bulk yeast
1 tbls sugar, divided
2 cups white bread flour
1 cup quinoa flour (sold at health food stores) or whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
4-6 tbls tepid, melted lard or vegetable shortening, divided
1/4 tsp annatto seeds ground (achote) optional
Annatto is a rust-colored, earthy-flavored seed used to produce coloring in cheese, butter, smoked fish and other foods. Its scent is
slightly peppery with a hint of nutmeg. Its flavor is slightly sweet and peppery  Annoto is a staple in latin American cooking, imparting
flavor as well as color.  It is most available in whole foods and latin American markets.

Egg wash: 1 egg beaten with 2 tbls water
Makes 6-8 shaped people or 2 loaves measuring 4x8 inches.
May make smaller people images to make 16.

In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 tsp of the sugar in 1 cup of tepid water.  Place the white bread flour in a large mixing
bowl.  When the yeast begins to bubble, make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yeast.  Gradually mix the flour into
the yeast until well combined.  Cover with a clean, slightly damp kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for 1
hour, until it has doubled in volume.

Punch down the dough and add the quinoa flour (or whole wheat flour), the remaining sugar, salt, the beaten egg and 4 tbls of
the lard.  Mix well and, if dry, gradually add just enough tepid water, 1 tbls at a time, to obtain a soft, smooth dough.  Knead the
dough until it becomes elastic and no longer sticks to your hands or to the side of the bowl.  Place it in a clean bowl, cover with a
damp, clean towel and allow to rise until double in volume, about 20 minutes.

Punch down the dough, and divide it into 6-8 pieces, or 16 pieces for smaller images, depending on the number of Tant'a wawas
desired.  Shape the dough into forms representing people who have passed away (or, as is done in Peru, into the shape of
babies).  Llamas or horses, suns, moons or ladders to heaven are other popular shapes.  Use cloves or raisins for eyes and
perhaps a slivered almond for a mouth.  Place the loaves on a lightly greased baking sheet.  cover and allow to rise for about 20
minutes, until double in size.

Before baking, some people color the faces of the T'ant'a wawas by brushing them with melted lard colored with annatto seeds.  
Brush the loaves lightly with egg wash and bake in an oven (preheated to 400 degrees) for about 20 minutes (less time for more,
smaller, people shapes), until the crust is golden brown.  Remove the T'an'ta wawas to a rack and allow to cool.  Dough may also
be baked in a lightly greased loaf pan.  It is wonderful when toasted for breakfast!
Annual Past Events with continued website information
Make a Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.