O día de los muertos (Day of the Dead) is a commemorative date celebrated in Mexico on November 2nd, on which it is customary to go to cemeteries visit the graves of loved ones and prepare altars with food, candles, flowers and others elements. It is said that only on these days can souls return from the beyond to be close to their own.
Origin of the Day of the Dead
The history of the celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico is of indigenous origin and has existed since the time of the Aztecs and Maya.
Initially, the celebration was held throughout the month of August. When Spanish settlers arrived, they were shocked by the pagan rituals of the Indians. Thus, they changed the commemorative date to the end of October and the beginning of November, in order to make it closer to the Hallowmas It's from All Souls' Day, celebrated by Catholicism on November 1st and 2nd, respectively.
Symbols of the Day of the Dead
Although the celebration of the Day of the Dead can vary depending on the region of Mexico, check out below for some elements that are typical of this date across the country.
Altar
O altar of death (altar of the dead) can have 2 to 7 levels.
A traditionally built altar has 7 levels, and each one has specific elements:
- 1st level (ground floor): cross made of flowers, seeds or fruits.
- 2nd level: photograph(s) of the deceased person(s) to whom the altar is dedicated.
- 3rd level: the fruits and also the deceased person's favorite dishes.
- 4th level: pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a type of traditional bread offered as food and consecration.
- 5th level: salt, which symbolizes purification.
- 6th level: dedicated to the souls of purgatory
- 7th level: image of the saint of family devotion
In addition, other offerings are also distributed around the altar, such as incense, candles, water, colored papers perforated with images, flowers, sugar skulls and objects of affection of the person deceased.
sugar skulls
At sweet calaves (sweet skulls) are sweets made with sugar, hot water and lemon, and molded into a skull shape.
Sweets are usually decorated in different bright colors and sometimes have a name written on the forehead.
There are two theories about this name: it is said that the name of the deceased loved one to whom the skull is offered or the name of the person making the offering can be written. According to tradition, anyone who offers a sugar skull guarantees their place in paradise.
Although the sugar skull is the traditional one, nowadays there are also skulls of others ingredients: some taste like chocolate, others are bathed in honey and there are even skulls with peanut.
Skeletons with clothes and props
Skeletons are usually scattered everywhere, from houses to streets. They are usually dressed in clothes, hats and ornaments such as earrings and scarves. According to tradition, they are the ones who welcome souls who come to visit their loved ones on the Day of the Dead.
Among the wide variety of skeleton types, there are some small, some large, and even some life-size. It is even possible to find decorated human skeletons.
However, most consist of representative puppets made from materials such as papier mache, wood and clay.
If for some cultures the decoration of the Dia de los muertos It may seem a little morbid, for Mexicans, fun skeletons decorated in cheerful colors can help the living deal with death in a less sad way.
decorative flowers
Flowers are used as decorations to represent the beauty and transience of life. They often integrate, for example, a large arch placed in front of the altar as a gateway for souls to pass through and visit the living.
Although several types of flowers are used in the decoration of the Day of the Dead, Mexicans tend to use specific ones, such as cockscomb, carnation, chrysanthemum and chrysanthemum. cempasuchil (known as marigolds).
Of all, the cempasuchil it is, without a doubt, the most emblematic flower of this commemorative date. Its yellow color represents the Sun that, according to Aztec tradition, guided the souls of the deceased to their last dwelling.
In addition to the flower itself being used in the decoration of altars and tombs, its petals are often used to form a path to the altar of the dead in order to help the souls of loved ones to find it.
La Catrina
La Catrina is a very iconic figure in the celebration of day of them deads, and was inspired by the frame La Calavera de la Catrina (The Skull of Catrina), by José Guadalupe Posada.
The figure is a representation of the skeleton of a lady of high society, wearing an elegant dress and a glamorous hat, typical of the Mexican aristocracy of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The creation of the work was a social criticism of a poorer Mexican population who, denying their indigenous origins, liked to appear to be a European way of life.
La Catrina was one of several humorous skulls created to demonstrate that everyone is equal and that social differences have no relevance in the face of death.
Curiosities about the Day of the Dead
- In 2003, the Day of the Dead was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
- The Day of the Dead celebration can last up to 7 days. The party usually starts around the 26th of October and goes on until the 3rd of November.
- Although the date is celebrated across the country, it is more traditional in the following locations: Aguas Calientes, Mexico City, Morelos, Oaxaca, and Quintana Roo.
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