Breathe
By Gabriela Andrade Gorab
Every October 31st the streets are filled with costumed shadows, spectral laughter and characters wandering in search of candy and scares. Halloween is a celebration of the occult, of that which lives beneath masks and capes, where what the costume hides can say much more than what it reveals. But what happens to us when we dress up, and what does this have to do with loyalty?
On Halloween, the costume is more than a game or a fun facade. It invites us to explore other identities, to try for a moment what it feels like to be another being, to stop being ourselves. We become heroes or villains, mystical creatures or monsters of our imagination. Yet within each mask, an essence still beats that remains intact: our loyalty to who we really are.
Loyalty, often understood as loyalty to a friend, a cause or to oneself, becomes especially interesting on Halloween. While costumes allow us to play with identities, they actually require a deep connection to our inner truth. We dress up not to escape, but to honor certain aspects of our personality that, perhaps, on a day-to-day basis remain hidden. Even when we dress up as someone else, our essence, our values and our loyalties are still present, no matter what outer form we adopt.
But there is a deeper dimension to all this: art. Like costume, art invites us to see the world from a new perspective. It challenges us to step out of our comfort zone and look beyond our everyday beliefs. A work of art, like a costume, allows us to adopt other points of view, experiment with reality and sometimes even question our identity. When we look at a painting, a sculpture, an installation, or a film work, we are confronted with the vision of another. Art disguises us as spectators, but in that act, it also reveals hidden aspects of ourselves. Through art, we can see the world through different eyes, and in the process we may discover new allegiances to ideas we may never have considered before.
The costume, then, becomes an artistic metaphor. Like a play or a painting that challenges our perception, dressing up on Halloween offers us the chance to change our perspective for a moment. What if I am a vampire, a pirate, or a mythical character? What will I learn by stepping into someone else's shoes, or even something that doesn't exist in the real world? Art, like costumes, allows us to play with our identity and expand the boundaries of what we think is possible.
This is where Day of the Dead comes in, reminding us that there are things we should honor and keep alive, and others that should remain in the past. While Halloween invites us to explore what is hidden beneath the masks, Day of the Dead teaches us to honor what has transcended. At altars, surrounded by marigold flowers and candles, we remember those who are gone, with the same loyalty that connects us to our loved ones.
Just as we remember those who have departed, we must also bury and leave behind that which does not serve us: disloyalty. Just as we leave offerings on altars for the souls that visit us, we must be aware that there are things that should not be brought back to life. Disloyalty, with its wounds and its falsehoods, should be buried forever, like a ghost that has no place among the living. Just as disguises fall and reveal our true essence, art and the Day of the Dead invite us to be loyal to the authentic, and to let the disloyal remain dead.
Think about this: when a group of friends dress up together, a special complicity arises. There is something loyal in the simple fact of sharing that experience, of trusting that, underneath the zombie makeup or the superhero outfit, we are still us. We recognize each other beyond the layers of fabric, because what is important is not what we show to the world, but what we carry inside. In this sense, the costume is not a shield that hides, but a tool that deepens that connection between people. A way of demonstrating that, even in the chaos of fantasy, our loyalties remain firm.
Art, for its part, is capable of doing the same. Through its colors, shapes and symbols, it connects us with universal emotions and thoughts, invites us to see the humanity that hides beneath the layers of our differences. It reminds us that, behind any mask, real or metaphorical, there is an essence that we all share. Art transforms us because it teaches us to be loyal to that common essence, to who we really are, beyond our appearances.
At the end of the day, both Halloween and Day of the Dead remind us that, though the costumes may come off and the masks may fall, loyalty is what remains. Whether to friends, family or ourselves, that loyalty to who we are and who we love is never disguised. It is the invisible thread that runs through everything, linking the real and the imaginary in a night where the hidden and the visible play at blurring together. And, like art, it invites us to see the world and our relationships with a renewed gaze, expanded and full of new possibilities. The disloyal, on the other hand, is best left buried where it belongs.
Book:
The book "02.11. Day of the Dead. A celebration of life and death", published by Trilce Ediciones under the direction of Deborah Holtz and Juan Carlos Menapublished by Trilce Ediciones under the direction of Deborah Holtz and Juan Carlos Mena, is a publishing gem that captures the essence of one of Mexico's most beloved and symbolic traditions. This project not only stands out for its impeccable production, but also for the richness of its content, which offers a brilliant visual tour with more than 25,000 images and six years of research. On each page, experts such as anthropologists, historians and artists invite us to understand this festivity in all its depth, from its pre-Hispanic origins to its evolution in modern times.
What makes this book unique is how it intertwines the sacred roots of the celebration of death with European influences and contemporary manifestations, such as the iconic Day of the Dead parade inspired by the movie "Spectre". It also addresses the impact of films such as "Coco," which have brought this tradition to previously unknown corners of the world. From the altars and offerings to the contemporary art of figures such as Betsabé Romero or the engravings of Felipe Ehrenberg, the work is a journey through the cultural richness that defines the Day of the Dead.
Best of all, this celebration of the Mexican soul does not stay within our borders. The prestigious publishing house Rizzoli will be in charge of bringing its English version to an international audience, thus underlining the global relevance of this holiday. The book will be presented on November 2 at the San Fernando Pantheon. Available at trilce.mx
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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