In Esperanza Rising, Miguel and Alfonso use an old wash tub and stones to create a grotto, a place where Papa’s family and friends can visit to remember him. A grotto is small cave-like space, enclosed on all but one side, that people build to mark a special place or to remember something important. Watch this video to learn more about grottos and other Mexican customs for remembering.
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In Mexican culture, there are several traditions for honoring and remembering loved ones who have died.
One popular custom is to create a grotto, a small memorial decorated with stones and flowers. Grottos can be built far from the place where a loved one is buried, which is helpful for family members who are unable to visit a loved one’s grave.
A grotto gives family members a special, quiet place to go where they can spend time remembering their time with the person they lost.
Grottos can be built near a loved one’s grave, too. They may hold an object special to that person or the statue of a saint or other religious figure.
Grottos are also a place to pray, to talk to the loved one who has died, or simply to leave flowers in that person’s memory.
Another type of memorial used in Mexico is an altar. Unlike grottoes, altars are created inside a home. They’re often where photographs of a lost loved one are displayed. Special objects that belonged to the person may also be part of the altar.
On certain days, such as a lost loved one’s birthday and during Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrations, family members may pay special attention to the altars in their homes. They may light candles on the altar and place real or paper flowers on it as they remember and celebrate the lives of those they love.
As part of Day of the Dead celebrations, some families bake or buy sweet bread, called pan de muerto, to place on the altar or to carry to a grotto in honor of their loved one.
Both grottos and altars provide a place to keep vigil—to spend time quietly remembering the past and the loved one who has died. And both altars and grottos are meant to keep a loved one’s memory fresh and present in daily life.
Question
After they see the grotto that Alfonso and Miguel have built, Mama reminds Esperanza of the promise that “Papa’s heart would find us wherever we go.” How does the grotto make this promise come true?
