What we gain from Día de los Muertos in turbulent times

Of all the altars that spanned the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on a warm Saturday in October, few had as large a crowd as the one dedicated to Donald Trump. Six tall skeletons were shrouded in colors of the rainbow, standing in a row behind a sign that proclaimed, “Fight for Impeachment.” On the lawn in front of them, smaller skeletons held placards that shared the sentiments that have both united and divided our nation over the past year: “Bridges Not Walls,” “Gay Rights Are Human Rights,” and “Save the Forest,” among others.

A man in a white T-shirt quietly lit a candle at the foot of the altar. His back faced the crowd of people taking photos with their phones; he was focused on the ashes, the fire, and the message spread out over the lawn and graves in front of him.

Generally observed on October 31st through November 2nd, Día de los Muertos traditionally celebrates the memory of those who have passed, and mocks death itself. Rather than viewing death as taboo or a source of fear, the holiday frames death as the ultimate equalizer. Hollywood Forever was uniquely appropriate for that theme; throughout the cemetery’s expansive grounds, people walked directly over graves. Standing on the lush grass growing over a real grave is, in a word, unsettling. But even more disarming is the sight of families sprawled around grave…