Día de los Muertos

Día de Muertos or, Day of the Dead, is observed in many European and Latin American countries and celebrates death as the natural end to life...once again the deceased awaken to celebrate with the living.  What a refreshing thought!  

One of the traditions of the celebration that I especially enjoy is honouring the dead with gifts of marigolds, "sugar skulls" and the favourite food of the dearly departed.  

This post celebrates the tradition with a selection of photos of Ukrainian cemeteries from central Saskatchewan and Alberta.    

(Above) August 7, 2020:  Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery near Nipawin, Saskatchewan.  The tall slender main marker is bold and attractive against the threatening sky.

August 4, 2020:  Pryma Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery near Smuts, Saskatchewan.  The church associated with this cemetery is just a few miles away and is named Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.  There is a fine array of traditional Eastern European grave markers in this country cemetery.

January 5, 2020:  Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox near Wroxton, Saskatchewan.  A small church and cemetery on the edge of town...picture postcard perfect.

August 5, 2020:  Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Tarnopol, Saskatchewan.  A bright summer day in the countryside.  I love the oversize dome on the church.

August 3, 2020:  Saint Mary's Orthodox Cemetery is just a few miles from Wakaw, Saskatchewan.  This is a view of the cemetery from just inside the tree-shrouded main gate.

February 21, 2020:  Saint Michail Cemetery near Myrnam, Alberta has many unmarked graves from the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919.  This cemetery is also known as Staray Tsventar (or simply, "Old Cemetery").  Well worth the walk from the main road to see this cemetery set in rolling hills.  

February 22, 2020:  New Kiev Holy Ascension Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery at New Kiev, Alberta.  One of the loveliest cemeteries I had the chance to visit this past winter.

August 3, 2020:  Saint John the Evangelist Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery near Prud'homme, Saskatchewan.  After supper I decided to take a drive south of Cudworth...in a word, "moody."

August 7, 2020:  Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Maryville, Saskatchewan.  A spectacular abandoned church that now occasionally appears in a dream from time to time.

August 7, 2020:  Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Cemetery at Brooksby, Saskatchewan.  It was a hot summer day on the prairie but the cemetery was picturesque and inviting.

January 4, 2020:  Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery at Dneiper, Saskatchewan.  An enfolding purple and pink sky on a late afternoon in winter makes a cold weather journey all worthwhile.

January 6, 2020:  The Ukrainian Catholic Parish and Cemetery of Saint Demetrius at Kyziv-Tiaziv near Rama, Saskatchewan. A beautiful sunset always makes for the perfect end to a cold winter day.

Happy life and afterlife!