Day of Dead is Mexico's liveliest holiday

edited by Madelyn Miller

Halloween is right around the corner. But, “Dia de Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) is celebrated November 1st and 2nd. It is one of the most popular and fascinating cultural holidays that dates back thousands of years. This festival is celebrated in Mexico and among Mexican- Americans in the United States.

A little bit about the holiday:

While death is a largely avoided topic in the United States, in Mexico, the “El Dia de Los Muertos” is a fascinating holiday for visitors traveling abroad. With its mix of pre-Hispanic and Roman Catholic rituals, “El Dia de los Muertos” is an illustration of the combination of pre-Hispanic and Spanish cultures that have come together to define the country and its people.
Al though in the Unites States death is a sad moment when people grieve and mourn the loss of a loved one; for Mexicans, death is not the end of the road, yet an intermediate phase in the cycle of life.

Día de los Muertos Traditions:

• People wear wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives
• Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend
• Pictures of the deceased are placed on Dia de los Muertos altars with their favorite food and drink.
• Families often spend time at the cemetery with loved ones, bringing food and drink along with all the other necessities for a picnic.

Fun Facts about the Altar…

• The altar includes four main elements of nature — earth, wind, water, and fire.
• Earth is represented by crop: The Mexicans believe the souls are fed by the aroma of food.
• Wind is represented by a moving object: Tissue paper is commonly used to represent wind.
• Water is placed in a container for the soul to quench its thirst after the long journey to the altar.
• Fire is represented by a wax candle: Each lit candle represents a soul, and an extra one is placed for the forgotten soul.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who loves Mexico--so much so that she plans to go to Mexico twice next month.

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