Meet The Man Keeping A Rare Day Of The Dead Bone Cleaning Tradition Alive | Still Standing

Summary

In the Mexican village of Pomuch, a unique Día de los Muertos tradition persists where corpses are annually cleaned to care for the afterlife. Don Pichu, a local grave builder, has been performing this ritual for 15 years, but the pandemic has reduced his work. Families clean tombs in preparation for the souls' visit on Day of the Dead, with some hiring Don Pichu for the task. Despite the decline in practice, the tradition continues, with some locals like Rosa María Yam Poot embroidering blankets as offerings for the dead.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Cleaning the dead is a unique Día de los Muertos tradition in the village of Pomuch, Mexico.
• 🕊️ Don Pichu, known for his work with corpses, is a local figure who cleans hundreds of corpses annually, but has seen a decrease in work due to the pandemic.
• 🦴 The ritual of cleaning skeletons is a way for families to care for their relatives in the afterlife and is believed to originate from Indigenous culture.
• 💀 The process includes specific orders for cleaning bones, with the skull always placed on top.
• 🏡 Ancient Mayans treasured their dead by adorning them with jewelry or burying them under their homes, a belief that the soul lives on after death.
• 🗓️ Families clean their dead throughout October to prepare for Día de los Muertos, when souls are believed to visit.
• 👤 Don Pichu has been involved in grave building and bone cleaning for 15 years, making it a second nature to him.
• 💸 The pandemic has significantly impacted Don Pichu's income, as he now earns less from cleaning graves and relies more on his full-time job.
• 🛌 Families replace old blankets with fresh ones during the ritual, symbolizing changing the dead's clothes.
• 🧵 Embroidered blankets are a specialty in Pomuch, with artisans like Rosa María Yam Poot taking pride in their designs and offering them for the souls' protection.
• ⛪️ The tradition is now primarily carried out by Catholics in Pomuch, despite the younger generation increasingly leaving the Catholic Church.

Q & A

What is the 'Cleaning the dead' tradition mentioned in the script?

The 'Cleaning the dead' tradition is a rare Día de los Muertos practice in Mexico, particularly in the village of Pomuch, where corpses are taken out of their tombs for an annual cleaning as a way to care for their relatives in the afterlife.

Why is Don Pichu hired to clean the corpses?

Don Pichu is hired because he has experience in building graves and cleaning bones, and it's also a way for him to make some extra cash. However, the pandemic has reduced the number of visitors to the cemetery, affecting his work.

What is the significance of cleaning skeletons in the context of Día de los Muertos?

The cleaning of skeletons is part of the preparation for Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, when it is believed that the souls of the deceased visit. Families clean the tombs to welcome these souls and ensure the afterlife is comfortable for them.

Why do families wait three years after death to open the tombs for the first clean?

It is against tradition for families to do the first clean after a person's death. They wait three years, and then it's customary to hire someone like Don Pichu to perform the first cleaning of the bones.

What is the origin of the bone-cleaning ritual according to the script?

The exact origin of the bone-cleaning ritual is unknown, but it is widely believed to come from Indigenous culture, with practices similar to those of the Ancient Mayans who treasured their dead by adorning corpses or burying them under their homes.

How does Don Pichu feel about working with corpses?

Don Pichu is not bothered by working with corpses, as he has been helping his family clean bones since he was a child, and after 15 years, it has become second nature to him.

What is the economic impact of the pandemic on Don Pichu's work?

The pandemic has led to fewer people visiting the cemetery, resulting in a decrease in the number of graves Don Pichu cleans, which has affected his income from this job.

What is the role of a fresh blanket in the ritual?

A fresh blanket is brought by families to replace the old one on the tomb, symbolizing changing the dead's clothes. It is seen as an offering and a way to care for the deceased.

Who is Rosa María Yam Poot and what is her contribution to the tradition?

Rosa María Yam Poot is a specialist in embroidering fresh blankets for the ritual. She has been making blankets for 60 years and sees her work as an offering for the souls in exchange for protection.

What challenges does the tradition face in terms of cultural and religious shifts?

The tradition is facing challenges as more of the younger generation in Pomuch are leaving the Catholic church, which traditionally carries on the ritual. Don Pichu's own children and grandchildren, for example, are Jehovah's Witnesses and reject the custom.

How does Don Pichu unwind after a long day of tending to the dead?

The script mentions that the job takes a lot of strength, implying that Don Pichu needs to wind down after a long day, although it does not specify how he unwinds.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ Tradition of Cleaning the Dead in Mexico

This paragraph introduces the unique tradition of cleaning the dead practiced in the village of Pomuch, Mexico, during Día de los Muertos. It highlights Don Pichu, a local who has been hired for years to clean corpses from their tombs annually. The tradition is seen as a way to care for relatives in the afterlife and is deeply rooted in Indigenous culture, with origins possibly tied to the Ancient Mayans. The pandemic has affected this practice, with fewer visitors to the cemetery and a decline in Don Pichu's work. The ritual involves cleaning bones in a specific order, with the skull placed on top, and is believed to prepare the tombs for the souls' visit during Day of the Dead. Families wait three years after death to open the tombs, and it is customary to hire someone like Don Pichu for the first clean. The paragraph also mentions the role of local artisans like Rosa María Yam Poot, who embroiders blankets for the dead as an offering.

05:02

🏚️ The Impact of Pandemic and Changing Beliefs on the Tradition

The second paragraph discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tradition of cleaning the dead, as well as the changing religious beliefs within the younger generation of Pomuch. It mentions that Don Pichu's own family, being Jehovah's Witnesses, does not partake in the custom, leading him to clean his uncle's grave alone. The paragraph also touches on the physical demands of Don Pichu's job and how he winds down after a day's work. It notes the dwindling continuation of the ritual by only Catholics in the village, contrasting with the global Christian belief against unburying the dead. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the tradition's future as more young people leave the Catholic church.

Keywords

💡Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. It is a time to remember and honor deceased loved ones. In the video, this tradition is central as families clean tombs and prepare for the souls' visit on this day, reflecting the theme of caring for the dead and their afterlife.

💡Pomuch

Pomuch is a village in Mexico known for preserving the rare tradition of cleaning the dead, as mentioned in the script. It is one of the few places where this practice is still observed, making it a key location in the video's exploration of this unique cultural ritual.

💡Don Pichu

José Alfonso Hernández Ake, known as Don Pichu, is a central figure in the video. He is a grave builder and cleaner of bones, a profession that is integral to the tradition of cleaning the dead in Pomuch. His role illustrates the personal connection and the physical labor involved in this tradition.

💡Skeleton Cleaning

Skeleton cleaning is the act of removing corpses from their tombs for annual cleaning, a tradition in Pomuch. The video discusses this practice as a way to care for relatives in the afterlife, showing how it is a significant part of the local culture and the Day of the Dead celebrations.

💡Indigenous Culture

The script suggests that the bone-cleaning ritual may have originated from Indigenous culture, referencing the Ancient Mayans' practices of treasuring their dead. This highlights the deep historical roots of the tradition and its significance in honoring the deceased.

💡Cemetery

The cemetery is the location where the cleaning of the dead takes place. The video describes how the pandemic has affected visits to the cemetery, impacting Don Pichu's work and the continuation of the tradition.

💡Rosa María Yam Poot

Rosa María Yam Poot is a character in the video who specializes in embroidering blankets for the dead. Her work represents an offering to the souls and is a part of the ritual of cleaning and honoring the dead, adding a layer of cultural depth to the tradition.

💡Catholicism

The video mentions that only Catholics in Pomuch continue the ritual of cleaning the dead, despite the general Christian belief against unburying the deceased. This highlights the syncretism of beliefs and the persistence of traditional practices within a specific religious context.

💡Jehovah's Witnesses

Don Pichu's family, who are Jehovah's Witnesses, reject the custom of cleaning the dead. This introduces a conflict within the family and the community, showing the challenges faced by traditional practices in the face of changing religious beliefs.

💡Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is mentioned as a factor that has reduced visits to the cemetery and affected Don Pichu's work. This serves as a reminder of the broader societal impacts that can influence cultural practices and personal livelihoods.

💡Afterlife

The belief in the afterlife is central to the video's theme, with the cleaning of the dead and the preparation for Día de los Muertos being acts of care for the souls in another realm. This belief motivates the tradition and is exemplified through the actions of the characters in the video.

Highlights

Cleaning the dead is a rare Día de los Muertos tradition in Mexico.

Pomuch village is one of the few places in Mexico that still practices this tradition.

Don Pichu is hired to take corpses out of their tombs for annual cleaning.

The pandemic has reduced the number of visitors to the cemetery, affecting Don Pichu's work.

José Alfonso Hernández Ake, known as Don Pichu, has been dealing with corpses for 15 years.

He cleans the skeleton of Juan Cauich Evan, who passed away 16 years ago.

The cemetery was closed last year due to the pandemic, and people are still hesitant to gather.

Some families request specific bone-cleaning orders, with the skull always placed on top.

The origin of the bone-cleaning ritual is unknown but is believed to come from Indigenous culture.

Ancient Mayans treasured their dead by adorning corpses or burying them under their homes.

Families clean their dead throughout October to prepare for Día de los Muertos.

Don Pichu is involved in the first clean of the tombs after three years of death.

Don Pichu used to clean up to 50 graves a day, but now spends most of his time waiting for clients.

Don Pichu's income mostly comes from his full-time job of grave building and cemetery maintenance.

Families bring fresh blankets to replace the old ones, like changing the dead's clothes.

Rosa María Yam Poot embroiders blankets for the dead, selling them for up to $7 each.

Rosa sees her work as an offering for souls in exchange for protection.

Only Catholics in Pomuch carry on the ritual, despite the younger generation leaving the Catholic church.

Don Pichu's family, Jehovah's Witnesses, reject the custom, so he cleans his uncle's grave alone.

The job of tending to the dead requires a lot of strength and winding down after a long day.

Transcripts

Narrator: Cleaning the dead is a rare

Día de los Muertos tradition in Mexico.

Many say the village of Pomuch

is one of the only places in the whole country

that still does it.

They believe it's a way to care for their relatives

in the afterlife.

For Don Pichu, it's also a way to make some extra cash.

Each October, he's hired to take hundreds of corpses

out of their tombs for their annual cleaning.

But since the pandemic, fewer people

have been visiting the cemetery, and his work has dwindled.

We went to Mexico to see how the tradition

of cleaning skeletons is still standing.

Most people known José Alfonso Hernández Ake

as Don Pichu,

and he'll admit that dealing with corpses

isn't for everyone.

But after 15 years of building graves and cleaning bones,

it's become second nature to him.

Narrator: Today, he's cleaning the skeleton of Juan Cauich Evan.

Narrator: He passed away 16 years ago,

and his family has been doing this ritual ever since.

Narrator: But the pandemic forced the cemetery to close last year,

and some people are still hesitant to gather.

Narrator: Some families ask Don Pichu to clean the bones

in a specific order.

Narrator: The skull always goes on top.

Narrator: The origin of this bone-cleaning ritual is unknown,

but most people say it comes from Indigenous culture.

Ancient Mayans would treasure their dead by adorning corpses

with jewelry or burying them under the floor of their homes.

They believe that the soul lives on

in another realm after death.

That's why families clean their dead throughout October.

They want the tombs to be ready by Día de los Muertos,

or Day of the Dead, when people believe the souls

come to visit.

Families wait three years after death

to open the tombs, and it's against tradition for them to do

the first clean.

That's where Don Pichu comes in.

Even after that, some people still prefer

to hire someone else to do it.

Narrator: Working with corpses never bothered Don Pichu.

He used to help his family clean bones as a kid.

Narrator: In years past, Don Pichu would clean up to 50 graves

on a good day.

But now, he spends most of his time at the cemetery

waiting for someone to show up.

On this day, he only got six jobs

for about 30 pesos each, or a little over a dollar.

Most of his income comes from his full-time job

of grave building and maintaining the cemetery for visitors.

When families do come, they always bring a fresh blanket

to replace the old one.

They say it's like changing the dead's clothes.

A few people in town specialize in embroidering these,

like Rosa María Yam Poot.

She's been making blankets for 60 years

and takes pride in her intricate designs.

Narrator: Rosa sells them for up to 150 pesos, or $7, apiece.

But she's not in it for the money.

She sees her work as an offering for the souls

in exchange for protection.

Narrator: Today, only Catholics carry on the ritual in Pomuch,

even though in most parts of the world,

Christians don't believe in unburying their dead,

but more and more of the younger generation here

are leaving the Catholic church.

Don Pichu's children and grandchildren

are Jehovah's Witnesses and reject the custom.

That's why he goes by himself to clean his uncle's grave.

Narrator:

And Don Pichu says this job takes a lot of strength.

Narrator: Even though he's been doing this for decades,

he still needs to wind down after a long day

of tending to the dead.