How to Celebrate!
Here is some quick information about Dia De Muertos: For more go HERE
- It is not the same as Halloween
- It is a joyous celebration of life. Death isn’t seen as a sad event but as a welcomed part of life. This celebration doesn’t honor death, but dead relatives and ancestors. It is a welcome opportunity to reflect upon your life, heritage, ancestors, and the meaning and purpose of your existence.
- It is not sad or focused on the fear of death
- It’s a day of happiness and love because its focus is on remembering loved ones. Death is thought of as an inevitable pathway that deserves a celebration!
- Mexico is not the only country that celebrates Dia De Muertos.
- There is a distinction in the way the U.S. celebrates the day(s).
- Other Latin countries; Columbia, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela, have ways of celebrating their deceased loved ones. Some are not as festive as the Mexican version, but it is still a spiritual time for reflection.
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Even in Mexico, the customs vary depending on the area in Mexico.
- It originated in Mexico and Central America
- "Originated in ancient Mesoamerica (Mexico and northern Central America) where indigenous groups, including Aztecs, Mayans, and Toltecs, had specific times to commemorate their deceased loved ones, based on whether the deceased was an adult or a child."
- "After the arrival of the Spanish, this ritual of commemorating the dead was intertwined with two Spanish holidays: All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Soul’s Day (Nov. 2). Día de Muertos is often celebrated on Nov. 1 as a day to remember children who have passed away, and on Nov. 2 to honor adults."
- Día de los Muertos vs. Día de Muertos
- Both versions are used depending on the region you travel to for the celebration. Places like the United States tend to use Día de los Muertos whereas places in Mexico may use Día de Muertos. The translation for Día de Muertos is All Souls' Day while Día de los Muertos translation is All of the Souls' Day.
- UNESCO recognized Dia de los Muertos in 2008
- The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) proclaimed Dia de Muertos as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2003 and inscribed it in 2008.
"Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos), is a holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink, and celebration.
A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is traditionally celebrated each year from November 1-2( but may include other days). According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2." - History.com
How It’s Celebrated Today
Today’s customs regarding Day of the Dead festivities have morphed over the years. Flowers, altars, food, and music are all integral parts of the holiday.
Families will gather during the night at the cemeteries, light candles, and place flowers on the burial sites of their lost loved ones. There is festive music and definitely no crying or grieving. This is a reflective and lively get-together honoring the deceased back to celebrate life and enjoy all the human things again.
Traditions
Ofrendas:
An ofrenda honors and celebrates the loved ones who have passed. They represent the four elements. Food illustrates the earth, Drinks symbolize water, a lit candle symbolizes fire, and the movement of tissue paper illustrates wind.
Pictures:
Photographs of the loved one are believed to draw in the souls of the people pictured. They show to whom the altar is dedicated and are often displayed in decorative frames.
Marigolds (Cempasúchil):
Cempasúchil are the flowers of the dead. The scent is thought to guide the spirits back with its intense color and pungent smell. Petals are sometimes spread in a path leading to the altar. Paper marigolds are also used and paired with incense.
Sugar Skulls (Calaveras):
Calaveras, symbolize life’s sweetness. They may also represent specific people and can be adorned with their names. Brightly and intricately decorated, sugar skulls are sold at Mexican grocery stores or online. Families also make them at home. Hand-painted ceramic sugar skulls are also very popular.
La Catrina:
It is believed that the Aztecs worshipped a goddess of death who protected their loved ones to help them into the next stages.
The figure above came from artist José Guadalupe Posada(1900). He drew skeletons this way to reflect other's aspirations to look like wealthy and aristocratic Europeans.
La Calavera Catrina is about your true self and not pretending to be someone else. No matter who you are and where you come from you will end up a skeleton like everyone else!
Papel Picado:
The brightly colored cut tissue paper originates from an Aztec tradition of using something similar to decorate religious sculptures, shrines, and burials. It's thought that the paper is cut so the soul can travel through the holes. It's also a symbol of the fragility of life.