Short Stories
Day of the Dead
Mexican marigolds, homemade tamales, sweet bread, copal resin incense . . . if the smells don’t beckon the souls of the living, surely the dead will be surprised. On November 1 and 2, visit Casa Azul’s Dia de los Muertos Altar Exhibit at the Greensboro Cultural Center. Witness an Aztec ritual that encourages family and friends to gather ‘round and pray for their deceased loved ones, who are believed to return home and visit once a year. Flickering candles help the dead find their way home, as do sweet-smelling flowers, while the colorful altars brim with various offerings — warm meals, chairs in which to rest, and soap to cleanse the weary spirit. Marvel at the details. But please don’t eat the candied pumpkins. They weren’t put there for you. For more information, visit casaazulgreensboro.org. AW Photographs by Lynn Donovan
The Art & Soul of Greensboro
October 2012
O.Henry 17