Naming a holiday “The Day of the Dead” (El Día de los Muertos) doesn’t sound like a recipe for joyful celebration. But indeed, this day of remembrance is a time of happy family sharing and activity, for it’s when Mexicans and some people of other Latin cultures lovingly—and colorfully—recall the relatives that have passed. The tradition is pre-Columbian, but has blended elements from the Spanish conquest as well. Some indigenous peoples believed that souls do not die, but continue to rest in Mictlan, a sacred place. Thus, contemporary Mexican families recognize and ritualize the continuance of the generations through the past. Though Mexico celebrates November 2nd as the Day of…