Moving can make you change your mind. Or choose better.
Since two years ago, I’ve been thinking about my own culture, all those little habits or things that define one person from a people, but are so common they usually get unnoticed.
For about a decade, cooking has been recognized as one of the most notorious cultural traits we can find. Sushi, for instance, is presented differently in México than in Japan (I have even found -not tried yet- Carne Asada sushi). And Chinese restaurants offer a mix of soy sauce with jalapeños in it (spicy).
Yet, what I have been looking for is more personal, or traditional in Mexico, yet is not a tradition. That’s what makes it interesting: the fact that is not folklore or tradition. There are not parties or date for it. Yet, people do it.
Particularly, this is one habit people have that I noticed when I was a little girl, and obviously took it for granted: everyone worldwide -Catholic, at least-, settle a cross wherever someone died. It took me a trip to Greece to find out that no other people do this. And even there, crosses were for tourists to find Orthodox temples.
Since then, I’ve been thinking about how to approach this topic, and after that, I just got to the obvious conclusion: start doing it. Once I have some info, finding the best point of view, order and topics will be easier.
Meanwhile, I’m just growing amazed about how many of these crosses sprout here and there: cities, highways, roads, intersections, and even streets no older than five to ten years already show at least one cross. And people’s showing of love: Soccer teams shirts or flags, especially after a Championship; flowers, small temples and even a bottle of liquor… There is no end to it.
Love even after death.
Ticia Valcer 