Five strikes of the sonorous clock tower bell thunder across the landscape, and a shroud of spine-chilling dread drapes itself across the reluctant shoulders of every person who has risen to greet this most sinister of days. All is enveloped in an impossibly thick fog of mystery, so swollen with eerie tension that one can scarcely find air to breathe. One haunting question lingers in the minds of all present: How is this day going to end? Only the shadows that battle for dominion of the dim starlit sky will be able to answer that question. Twenty-four hours now remain. The Dawn of the Final Day has arrived at last.
The dawn of the final day of October, that is.
Different Celebrations In Different Parts of the World
For countless people across the world, particularly in North America, Europe, Australia, and East Asia, Halloween is that rare time of the year where we revel in being thoroughly creeped out. With roots that trace all the way back to medieval Christian tradition, All Hallows’ Eve is believed to be the day when the barrier between our physical reality and the intangible world of spirits is thin enough for the two sides to intermingle.
What that frequently translates to in the modern secular world is a night of ghoulish delights, when macabre imagery and supernatural phenomena are gleefully embraced as we chase the thrilling adrenaline rush that only pure terror (and a few buckets of candy) can provide.
Witches, werewolves, monsters, and especially ghosts are depicted as malevolent entities who only wish to do us harm, and as a result, they are the prime disguises for the little rapscallions intent on haunting their neighborhood; if your Halloween costume can genuinely frighten at least one person over the course of the night, it is considered a success. Yes, this is surely a night of horror that will spook you right out of your skin!
Do some quick globe-hopping over to Latin America, and you will find another holiday that celebrates the melding of the world of the living and the land of the dead. The tone of this holiday, however, is distinctly different.
The eerie color palette and unsettling symbols of Halloween are swapped out in favor of gorgeously vibrant decorations and the gentle glow of candlelight. The tense ambient soundscapes that make our skin prickle with goosebumps are replaced with upbeat instrumental music, singing, and dancing that brings smiles to faces and draws the community together.
Instead of trading ghost stories in hushed tones intended to scare the audience, families and friends openly speak of the deceased in warm, heartfelt tones, trading sweet and often funny anecdotes about who they were in life. When the time comes, these spirits are welcomed back as if from a long journey, offered more than enough food and love to nourish them for a year, and sent on their way until the next time they can visit.
Friends Reunited
This wonderful holiday is known as the Day of the Dead, and one talented Mexican artist known as MariLink25 decided to demonstrate her love of her country’s traditions by combining it with her passion for the video game series we all adore: The Legend of Zelda. Only in this case, it’s not just the veil between the physical world and the spirit world that gets lifted: It’s also the one that so stubbornly separates the Light Dwellers from the ethereal beings who thrive within the Twilight.
Here we see the Twilight Princess incarnation of Link warmly greeting his beloved friend Midna, ready to enjoy a rare night of fun together as the gateway between their worlds briefly swings open. The sheer level of detail that oMariLinko has poured into the character designs in this portrait is utterly mesmerizing. Link looks absolutely dashing in his tuxedo vest that’s adorned with shiny Hylian Crest broaches and topped off with a bright red bowtie. And the sombrero atop his head suits him surprisingly well.
Midna, on the other hand, is a radiant beauty, opting for an elegant yet subdued outfit that highlights her alluring elegance without appearing too flashy. The skull face paint looks fantastic on both of them, and the marigolds perfectly compliment the bright orange hue of Midna’s hair. This definitely looks like a couple ready to hit the town and dance the night away!
A Spirited Setting
But even though our two central figures do indeed have amazing designs, I think the most fascinating part of this picture is the setting. Clock Town from Majora’s Mask may seem like a bizarre choice, since none of the characters from Twilight Princess are known to have any association with Termina, but I think it makes sense on a few levels.
First, the interior of the Clock Tower has already been established as a portal between realms. It has strange, temporal characteristics, so the notion that other worlds besides Hyrule — such as the Twilight Realm — could use it as a rare gateway to Termina doesn’t seem terribly far-fetched. Naturally, Clock Town would be the designated location for such a unique festival to take place. Second, Clock Town is a lively community that deeply values its traditions, with an enterprising spirit that cannot easily be dampened. What better place to gather for a joyous celebration of life?
And finally, Clock Town is a place where meetings and partings go hand-in-hand. During the Carnival of Time, creatures from all corners of Termina come together for one all-too-brief moment to forge bonds and spread well wishes, knowing full well that the time will soon come for them to bid farewell and return to their normal lives. Every time Link turns back the clock to Dawn of the First Day, all of the friends he made forget who he is and what he did for him, leaving Link alone with the memories of their time together.
This mysterious burg, bathed in golden light as if eternally preserved in amber, sees joy and grief, creation and destruction, entwined in a never-ending cycle where one inevitably leads to the other. Here, all those forced on separate journeys — the Hylians and the Twili, the living and the dead — can find temporary respite, reuniting for one special night before the bittersweet moment when they have to say, “Until we meet again.”
In the future, I would love to see more portraits from MariLink that show other characters coming together on the Day of the Dead.
Perhaps Zelda could finally have a heart-to-heart conversation with King Rhoam and share a father-daughter dance with him, or maybe Mikau could reconnect with Lulu and his bandmates and interact with his children for the first time. There are so many heartwarming scenarios that come to mind, but even I don’t see any of them come to fruition, I look forward to seeing what this fantastic artist has in store for the future.
A Day of Remembrance
Now for a little background on what this holiday entails. The Day of the Dead (“Día de los Muertos” in Spanish) is, contrary to the name, actually a multi-day celebration that typically begins on October 31 and concludes on November 2 of every year; many countries in Latin America celebrate their own variation of it, but I think many would agree that Mexico is where the holiday’s true heart and soul lie.
During this lovely occasion, families set up these magnificent altars in their homes known as “ofrendas.” Photographs that immortalize deceased loved ones are seated on them and circled by delicate marigolds and mounds of delicious food such as tamales, fresh fruit, alcohol, and anything else the family members enjoyed in life. In addition, graves are cleaned and decorated with flowers and candles, which illuminate the darkness as individuals gather around them long into the night.
These activities unite families and communities in remembrance of those who have passed, but the mood is anything but solemn; as I said before, people tell funny stories, sing songs, and generally celebrate the lives lived rather than mourn their loss. Costumes and candy are also as crucial to the Day of the Dead as they are to Halloween, as people paint their faces with truly exquisite designs intended to mimic skulls. They also gift each other with colorful “calaveras,” or edible sugar skulls. All in all, this is a spectacular celebration that treats the dead with respect, dignity, and love, encouraging people to realize that death is nothing to fear so long as your memory lives on.
Feliz Día de los Muertos and a happy Halloween to you all!
