Crosses that adorn our roads and that pay homage to those who, at least materially, are no longer with us, but what happens with these tributes on the day of the dead?
On any date we see certain monuments in some parts of the country to which we pay little or no attention because they are already an integral part of the landscape. Regardless of size, color or style, they are very numerous and in a way they are dedicated to death as reminders that it is always present and sometimes rounds some sections of the road.
How many times do we notice specific points where these altars or "graves" are a few meters apart on one side of the asphalt tape to indicate that careless drivers have perished there, and in others because the very line of the road becomes dangerous.
These “graves”, many without inscription and all empty, undoubtedly have a greater impact than the monuments to the irresponsible driver that the Federal Highway Police usually place strategically during the holiday season to raise awareness among tourists.
It is worth noting the respect for these altars, in particular when a road is expanded to add lanes to it, since except in very exceptional cases, they are rarely removed from their site; even on toll roads such monuments are allowed to be erected after a fatal accident.
Has anyone ever wondered what happens to those "graves" during the Days of the Dead? Are they visited by family and friends to decorate them with some offering? The answer seems simple, but almost all remain as lonely as the other 363 days of the year in the category of "the forgotten grave."
Driving on our roads in the first days of November can clear up some doubts. We will notice that most of these altars lack the cheerful golden color of the marigolds or the purple of the lion's feet. It may be that the relatives of the "deceased" live many kilometers away and do not have the resources or the time to move to that place, in addition to preferring to take their offering to the grave in the cemetery.
However, sometimes one finds the needles in the haystack and some of those "graves without deceased" show decorations, which indicates that the tragic event was recent or that the relatives live nearby and take the time to go to the place. of the facts to fix the altar, leave an offering and keep the memory of the loved one.
Thus, we confirm once again that ritual expressions in Mexico are very varied and that the feast of the dead is felt everywhere, although in most cases road monuments dedicated to death seem forgotten.
