Part of diplomat’s life, Erin talks about Día de los Muertos: The Joyful Mexican Version of Qingming Festival, and a lot more.

Seeing the ladies talking about holidays, I suddenly realized that it was already Qingming Festival.Coincidentally, this episode features a conversation with Erin about Mexico’s version of Qingming—Día de los Muertos （starting from 01:07:00）, where people sing and dance to joyfully welcome the souls of their loved ones returning from another world.Originating from ancient Indigenous traditions and later blended with Spanish Catholic influences, Día de los Muertos was recognized by UNESCO in 2008 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It has since become a cultural emblem of Mexico.People set up altars (ofrendas) in their homes or at cemeteries, decorating them with sugar skulls, marigolds, candles to guide the spirits, as well as photos and keepsakes filled with memories. Many also dress in elaborate outfits, wearing wide-brimmed hats and painting their faces with vibrant skull designs—La Catrina, inspired by the artwork of Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada. This tradition symbolizes the coexistence of life and death, as well as deep respect for the departed.In contrast, Qingming Festival is observed with solemnity, as we pay tribute to our ancestors. It’s also the perfect time to teach my three-year-old, Oskar, the classic line: “A drizzly Qingming sees travelers lost in sorrow…” Meanwhile, traditions like spring outings and kite flying make for meaningful family activities.On my own journey of self-discovery in my early twenties, I had an eye-opening experience regarding different perspectives on death.I was in Pai, Thailand, where I ended up at a bamboo lodge in the forest, spending the night by the bonfire, surrounded by laughter. The next morning, while looking for breakfast, I ran into an elderly European woman who had been there the night before. Her eyes seemed untouched by time.I greeted her, “Hi! It was great seeing you last night.”
In a French-accented English, she replied, “Thank you for coming to my son’s funeral.”I was momentarily at a loss for words.She held my hand and said, “He lived a short but extraordinary life. Thank you for celebrating and sending him off with us.”It turned out that her son had been traveling in Pai when he had a tragic motorcycle accident.
I asked, “Was that your daughter with you last night? Do you worry about her traveling on her own after this?”
She smiled, “No. Everyone has their own destiny. She deserves the freedom to explore her life.”That moment was an awakening for me.The Pixar-Disney film Coco tells the story of Día de los Muertos. This weekend, it might be the perfect time to watch it with Oskar. As the movie teaches us：“The real death is being forgotten.”