The Day of the Dead is a time during which life is celebrated. Ceremonies know no boundaries between rich and poor; in fact, the Day of the Dead creates a flat social structure in the community if just for the two days. Persons in power such as the mayor of the town march alongside farmers. People and families who are not otherwise friends embrace and laugh together. The role of the Day of the Dead in a modern expatriate community in California is complex. First, the ceremony is a palpable bond between the immigrant community and the country of origin. The annual celebration is one of the most meaningful ways this group of Mexican immigrants remains connected to its geographic and cultural ancestry. Second, the ceremony bonds together what might otherwise be a disparate group of immigrants. Many of the migrants in this town are from the same regions in Mexico but few are from the same villages and many...

Therefore, the Day of the Dead is a means by which this California town creates and maintains community solidarity and social networking. Third, the Day of the Dead celebration serves a strong psychological and spiritual function by helping family members cope with loss and death, ponder their life trajectories, and become more cognizant of their ancestors and their personal sacrifices.
Works Cited

Dia de los Muertos." AZCentral. Retrieved Nov 30, 2008 at http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)." Northern Notes. Retrieved Nov 30, 2008 at http://www3.niu.edu/newsplace/nndia.html

Herz, May. Day of theDead. Inside Mexico. Retrieved Nov 30, 2008 at http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm