O Day of the Dead, or Day of the Dead, in Spanish, is a Mexican celebration in which the custom is to visit cemeteries and tombs of loved ones and prepare altars with flowers, candles, saints and food. The date is celebrated on the 2nd of November, but the celebrations begin on the 31st of October, close to the Catholic Church's celebrations of All Saints' Day and Day of the Dead, respectively on the 1st and 2nd of November.
Read too: What are the symbols of Halloween?
Topics of this article
- 1 - Origin of the Day of the Dead
- 2 - How is the Day of the Dead celebrated?
-
3 - Symbols of the Day of the Dead
- altars
- Skulls
- La Catrina
- skeletons
- Flowers
- 4 - Day of the Dead vs Halloween
Origin of the Day of the Dead
Although the celebration is in line with the christianity, the origin of the Day of the Dead predates the arrival of Europeans in America. A festivity is from the pre-Hispanic indigenous culture, celebrated by the people Aztec, Mayan, Zapotec and Mixtec.
During the colonial period in Mexico, which began in 1521, there was what is called religious syncretism between the commemorations of the
indigenous culture with Catholic holy days. It was at this point that All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day merged with the commemoration of the Day of the Dead.The belief of the funeral tradition is that on this day the souls of the dead return to Earth to be with their loved ones. The ritual explains how the people of that culture dealt with death.
It is believed that the way family and friends deal with the death of their loved ones interferes with their "after-death life". Therefore, the Day of the Dead is a time of celebration, of telling and remembering stories and honoring the memory of those who died.
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How is the Day of the Dead celebrated?
The celebration takes place in houses and cemeteries. Offerings are made with the favorite foods and drinks of the dead. Fruits, plates, water and much more are offered.
Altars are set up, and streets and houses are decorated. It is also common for people to dress up, dance and sing in the streets of the main cities of Mexico.
Read too:Carnival — the main popular Brazilian festival
Symbols of the Day of the Dead
There are several ways to celebrate this date throughout Mexico. However, check below five main symbols of the Day of the Dead in the country.
altars
Altars are extremely traditional in celebrating the festival. The altar can have from two to seven levels. Each level has its specific elements. Photos, candles, sugar skulls, fruits, flowers, salt and images of saints are distributed around the altar. The person's objects of affection are also placed on the altar.
Skulls
The skulls are the most famous symbols of the Mexican celebration. They can be made from several ingredients, but the most famous are those made from sugar, called sweet skulls (sweet skulls).
Sweet skulls are made from sugar, lemon and hot water. They are decorated with bright colors and flower designs.
La Catrina
It is the most famous Mexican skull. It was inspired by the painting La Calavera de la Catrina, by José Guadalupe Posada. Its representation is political and social, symbolizing the skeleton of a high society lady wearing an elegant dress and hat.
The criticism is aimed at Mexico's poorest population, who have renounced their indigenous roots in favor of the European way of life. Another criticism represented by the skull is that, in the end, we are all equal in the face of death.
skeletons
![Day of the Dead Skeletons. [2]](/f/2f88a3fb2c165d4b84a5ee7429dbb602.jpg)
Skeletons in Day of the Dead are everywhere! They can be found in houses, streets and cemeteries. They are often decked out in clothing, hats, and accessories.
The belief is that skeletons welcome the souls of those who come to visit their loved ones.
Flowers
Flowers are used to decorate the entire Day of the Dead celebration, from the altars to the streets. They represent beauty and the transition of life.
A The best known and most used flower is the cempasúchil, a yellow flower reminiscent of the Sun, which, according to Aztec tradition, guided the souls of the dead.
Day of the Dead vs Halloween
The theme and closeness of the dates make the Day of the Dead and Halloween celebrations look the same, but there are considerable differences between the two.
The main one is that O halloween is of European origin, of the pagan festivals of celts. On the other hand, the Day of the Dead mixes indigenous and Catholic, Latin elements.
Another difference is the duration of both celebrations. While Halloween falls on the 31st of October, Day of the Dead celebrations can last up to a week.
image credits
[1] OscarGlezt / Shutterstock
[2] ooo.photography / Shutterstock
By Miguel Souza
Journalist
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUZA, Miguel. "November 2 — Day of the Dead"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/datas-comemorativas/2-de-novembro-dia-dos-mortos.htm. Accessed on July 22, 2023.
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Click and deepen your knowledge about Mexico. Find out what are the main geographical aspects of this country and learn more about its history and culture.
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Cringe
The slang adapted from English is used to designate someone who is seen as tacky, shameful, outdated and out of fashion.
