In Colombian mountains, natives see in winter, honouring the dead

In Colombian mountains, natives see in winter, honouring the dead
By Florence Panoussian (AFP) 3 hours ago

As millions elsewhere celebrate Halloween in fancy costume dress, for the Misak people of southeastern Colombia the coming of November is a solemn occasion to honour the dead.

Of the scores of indigenous groups in Colombia, the Misak are considered to have best conserved their ancestral traditions, which at the coming of winter means making offerings to their ancestors.

"For us, the year 2015 ended on October 31," said Manuel Julio Tomina, 52, a traditional doctor in this community around the town of Silvia, home to 14,500 of the 20,000 Misaks in Colombia.

"The new year started on November 1 and all the spirits of the dead come to visit us. Here people make offerings around the fireplace and all over the house."

The Misaks live at more than 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) altitude in the Andes.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/in-colombian-mountains-natives-see-in-winter-honouring-the-dead/article/448331#ixzz3qVpk1U4Q

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