Working on the road makes it difficult at times to honor holiday and cultural traditions like you would at home. Finding ways to take traditions on the road can keep seasonal blues away and help connect to loved ones even when working. Holidays like Day of the Dead take place in October and November, honoring loved ones who have passed. Mexican cultures have built traditions around these days, practiced every year. If these traditions are part of your culture, or if you simply want to partake, there are ways to take them on the road with you, and don’t underestimate the positive impact this can have on you.

 

Remind Yourself Why You Have Day of the Dead Traditions

 

Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is November 2nd, but specific days honor specific people and deaths, starting with October 27th, when we remember our beloved pets who have passed. Pets become family members and are considered guides for humans in this life and the next in a sense. We honor the love and commitment our pets gave us on this day by putting up their pictures and favorite treats or toys as offerings.

October 28th honors deaths caused by accidents, and October 31st is specially designated for celebrating the souls of departed children. November 1st and 2nd, continue the celebrations, remembering adults. During these times, traditions say the veil between this life and the next is lifted, allowing the spirits of departed loved ones to visit us. Simply put, they are times for remembering and celebrating the lives they shared with us.

 

 

Going to their graves is the norm, decorating them with marigolds, candles, and their favorite food and drink. If you cannot visit their grave sites, a makeshift altar in your home called an ofrendra will do. Put up their pictures and things they would enjoy and celebrate the life they had and the love they gave. Whether you believe the spirits visit or not, taking these traditions to work with you will help calm anxieties and provide warmth from the thought. These altars and celebrations allow us to remember departed loved ones positively, and there is comfort in feeling like they are there celebrating with you.

 

Honor Your Traditions While Trucking

 

It’s easy to forget about traditions you create at home when you’re a trucker, but it’s crucial to find a way to bring the essential ones on the road with you. When trucking, maintaining traditions becomes difficult, but there are ways to take Day of the Dead with you.

A makeshift altar or ofrenda is an essential part of the Day of the Dead, and it can be challenging to pull off if you’re a trucker. It will take some work and creativity, but setting up an ofrenda in your truck is entirely doable. The hardest part will be finding a designated space to set up your items without creating a safety hazard or inconveniencing a partner you’re sharing space with. The most essential items on the altar are pictures of your loved ones, so consider that first when looking for a space.
Hanging up the pictures will also work if that option is more convenient, and this is where string lights with clips will come in handy, offering a to-fer with lighting and a way to hold pictures.

Once the pictures are situated, you can add small mementos, sugar skulls, and marigold flowers found anywhere this time of year.

Candles will add to the ambiance, but look for electric candles to use in your truck to avoid fire hazards. If space allows, add your loved one’s favorites like food and drink; if not, celebrate with one big feast during one of your stops.

 

Stop at Day of the Dead Festivals and Celebrations

 

Day of the Dead festivals and celebrations occur throughout the US, so you’re bound to come across one on your journey. If you need inspiration for an ofrenda, stop in San Francisco if it’s on your route, and check out the Festival of Altars.

 

 

In Los Angeles, Olvera Street comes alive with the sounds and sights of Dia de los Muertos. Get your face painted and even catch a theatre performance of La Danza de la Muerte, which tells the Indigenous story.

 

Albuquerque, New Mexico, is also a prime destination for celebrations with its Muertos y Marigolds festival, and if your travels take you further East, stop in San Antonio, Texas, for fun around every corner.

Take some time to consider how you can take unique traditions like the Day of the Dead on the road with you before embarking on your next trip; it will be worth the work.

 

Thank you for reading! Follow our blog for more trucking news and highlights, and check out our employment opportunities and requirements if you are interested in a trucking job.

 

Other Recommended Readings for Improving Life on the Road:

Truck or Treat: Cities With The Most Halloween Spirit

Road Safety Tips: Driving on Halloween

How Can Truckers Deal with Holidays on the Road?

Mental Health Awareness for Truckers