Each November 2nd is celebrated Day of the Deadone of the most representative traditions of Mexico and symbol of the union between indigenous and Christian beliefs.
Far from being a day of mourning, this date invites us to celebrate life and keep alive the memory of those who are no longer here. It is believed that, during this day, the souls of loved ones return to live again with their families, sharing food, music and memories.
Although it is usually associated with Halloween due to its proximity on the calendar, the Day of the Dead has a completely different meaning: it is a holiday that honors love, memory and continuity of ties beyond death.
The celebration of Day of the Dead It takes place on November 1 and 2 since it is divided into categories, according to the official site of the Mexican government. «According to the Catholic calendar, November 1 corresponds to All Saints, a day dedicated to the “little dead” or childrenand on November 2 to the Faithful Departed, that is, to the adults«, they detail.
All Souls’ Day will take place this November 2. Photo: Freepik.
What is the origin of the Day of the Dead?
For pre-Hispanic cultures, death was the beginning of the journey towards the «Mictlan»something that in the Nahuatl language means «Place where the dead live». There in Mictlán, unlike what the Christian religion proposes, There are no moral connotations of hell or paradise.
However, to reach it, the dead had to, for four years, go through various tests that they found in the different levels of the underworldto finally arrive at the place of his eternal rest.
When the conquerors arrived, Christianity was introduced to the indigenous culture. «the terror of death and hell».
The objective of this date is to keep alive the memory of those who are no longer here. Photo: Freepik.However, the evangelizers were forced to give in to the strong beliefs of the natives and, in this way, a fusion between Spanish and indigenous customs which began what is known today as the Day of the Dead celebration.
For the Catholic churchthe days to honor the dead are November 1 and 2, days of All Saints and All Soulsrespectively. However, for those who follow the indigenous customsthe celebration begins the last week of October and ends the first days of November.
What is celebrated on the Day of the Dead?
The Day of the Dead -also called Day of the Faithful Dead– It is a day in which tribute and gratitude are paid to the deceased.
In Mexicoin particular, death is seen as another step in lifewhich is why we celebrate and honor those who are no longer on this plane, accompanying us on a daily basis. All of them are remembered with images, music, dances and stories, and in this way, tradition says, their souls stay alive.
During the celebration, skulls are painted on the face as a way to honor deceased ancestors. Photo: Xinhua.Each family lives it in their own way, so they receive their loved ones in a particular way, and there are many who even decide to go to the cemetery to take them. offerings, songs, joy or lighting a candle in their honor.
Las celebrations can start days before, generally from October 27, to receive different types of souls on specific days:
- October 27: Arrival of the souls of the pets.
- October 28: Arrival of people who died tragically or in accidents.
- October 29: Arrival of those who drowned.
- October 30: Arrival of forgotten or familyless souls.
- October 31: Arrival of those who are in limbo or who were never born.
- November 1: The souls of deceased children are received.
- November 2: The souls of adults are received.
What are the symbols of the Day of the Dead
Banquets
To celebrate the arrival of your deceased loved ones, a feast with their favorite foods and drinks is laid out as an offering. There may be alcohol, chocolate, sweets and cigarettes. There is also no shortage of dishes from traditional Mexican cuisine: Pan de Muerto, Alfeñique sweet tacha, tamales, Mole, champurrado, tejocote candy and seasonal fruits.
Altars
They are the heart of the celebration and each family performs it in their home or in the cemetery where the loved one who is going to be honored is buried. It has the portrait of that person, it is decorated with colorful papel picado, and candles, incense, Pan de Muerto, fruits, water, salt, mezcal, tequila, sugar skulls, sweets and Mexican food are placed.
Young woman dressed as Catrina smiles while visiting the «Altar of the Dead» Photo: EFE.
Calaveras
They are representations of deceased relatives. Skulls made of sugar or chocolate and often consumed by children after the celebration, are an example of the Mexican ability to celebrate death.
Catrina
It is a skull-lady dressed in skirts and traditional clothes and a wide-brimmed hat. As the story goes, the famous muralist Diego Rivera was the one who ended up catapulting her to fame, when he portrayed her in his famous work «Dream of a Sunday afternoon in Alameda Central»a work in which he also painted himself and Frida Kahlo.
