Son of Hel

Today, I read about someone who was disgusted with the appropriation of sugar skulls in regards to the holiday of Dia de Los Muertos. This is one of the more somber of holidays in a Spanish context. I’ve watched and read and been moved to tears by the artwork associated with this holiday. But I think what really got to me about this is the fact that person who was angry with the appropriating felt like the spiritual moment, the cathartic moment of that holiday, had been taken away from them by all of this cultural appropriation. They felt like it had been taken away from them in some respect. As a white woman who has no holidays, I can’t help but think that if they really want to let outsiders influence them so heavily in such a rich, emotional, and culturally gorgeous holiday then the connection they once had…