Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is an enthralling famous Mexican festival that outstrips borders, captivating hearts worldwide with its colorful displays, rich traditions, and profound symbolism. The Day of the Dead takes place in Mexico on November 1st and 2nd of each year. This national holiday marks the temporary return to earth of deceased loved ones. Since 2003 it has been on the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity established by UNESCO. It gives rise to colorful and festive public celebrations, but also to moments of intimate meditation: each home includes an altar decorated with offerings and a path is made of marigold flower petals to represent the path that the souls must take to reach the altar.
History
The origins of the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico trace back to the ancient indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. In their worldview, the belief in an immortal soul that transcended physical death was central. Pre-Hispanic societies held elaborate rituals dedicated to honoring the deceased, with one of the most significant being the festival of the fleshless. Led by figures like Mictlacíhuatl, the goddess of the dead, and Mictlantecuhtli, the lord of the underworld, these ceremonies took place in the ninth month of the Mexica calendar, near August.
Unlike Western concepts of heaven or hell, the journey through Mictlán, the realm of the dead, involved traversing various levels before finding eternal rest. The arrival of Spanish conquerors introduced Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife, but indigenous customs and beliefs remained resilient. A syncretism emerged, blending Spanish and indigenous traditions, giving rise to the vibrant celebration of the Day of the Dead observed today. This fusion preserves the essence of honoring departed ancestors and celebrating the continuity of life, creating a deeply significant cultural tradition.
Celebration of the Día de Muertos
The most representative element of the Day of the Dead festivity in Mexico are the altars with their offerings, a representation of our vision of death, full of allegories and meanings, the elements that can be found on the altars of the dead are:
– Colored papel picado: Generally purple, pink and orange that symbolize the union of life and death.
– Personal objects of the deceased and photographs: In the form of a tribute.
– Drink and food: Traditional food is placed or food that was liked by the deceased is placed for the soul to enjoy.
– Bread of the Dead: It is a representation of the Eucharist, and was added by the Spanish evangelizers.
– Natural water: Water has great importance since, among other meanings, it reflects the purity of the soul, the continuous sky of regeneration of life and crops and in the offering it is represented with a glass full of water that serves to the spirit quenches your thirst after the journey from the world of the dead
– White candles and candles: Symbol of love that guides souls to the altar.
– Flowers: The marigold is used, which represents the earth.
- The marigold flower is a symbol of the brilliance of the sun, which was considered the origin of everything. It serves as a guide to the souls to indicate the direction in which to reach what was their home. Each flower represents a life, and in the case of the deceased it means that he still retains a place within the Whole, and that he has not been forgotten by his friends and family.
– Candy skulls: Commonly with the name of the deceased written on the forehead. Day of the Dead traditions vary by region, but they all have a common principle: the family gathers to welcome the souls, place the altars and offer offerings; visit the cemetery and arrange the graves; say goodbye to the visitors and sit at the table to share food and mingle with those who are still with us.
This Famous Mexican Festival, The Day of the Dead is a time for families to come together, remember their ancestors, and celebrate the continuity of life and death with joy and reverence.
