Dia De Los Muertos

For most people, last night was the big night of the month with Halloween.  They dressed up in costumes, collected candy, or partied with others.  Not every culture celebrates Halloween.  In Mexico,  Dia de los muertos or day of the dead began last night.

It is a night when families honor those members who have passed by creating offerings.  The family has an alter decorated with bright yellow marigolds, pictures of those who passed, and their favorite foods and drinks.  It is believed the spirts of those who have passed on, will return and join in the celebrations for a short time because the veil has disappeared..

This celebration began last night and goes to November 2nd.  The first day beginning at midnight of November 1st  is when it is believed that the spirts of deceased children return to be with their family for 24 hours.  Families place the child's favorite drinks, snacks, toys, and photos to attract their spirts. Then beginning at midnight of November 2nd, they begin remembering the adults and celebrations take on a more adult look.  The last part of the celebration begins around noon when families go to the cemetery to clean the headstones while placing marigolds, gifts, and sugar skulls inscribed with the name of the deceased on the grave.

It is believed that these celebrations date back around 3,000 years to pre-columbian rituals that celebrated the dead. In those times, people saw death as an important part of the circle of life.  It was believed that when a person died, their spirt went up to the Land of the Dead but could only enter it after making it through 9 challenging levels.  The journey could take many years to complete before they entered the Land of the Dead so their families left food, water, and tools to help the spirts through the journey.

Contrary to popular opinion, El Dia De Los Muertos and Halloween are not the same holiday.  Although they share many of the same characteristics, they are different.  In addition, most graveyards in Mexico are owned by the Catholic Church and families are expected to keep the gravesite cleaned so this time of year provides a good time for families to pull weeds, clean the headstones, and decorate it with flowers.

Furthermore, the celebration overflows into the streets and public squares with people often dressed up as skeletons.  Most have their faces painted to resemble skulls and dress is fancy clothing while they wear shells and other noisemakers to rouse the dead.  In addition, the celebrations vary a bit from region to region based on the makeup of the population.

I hope you enjoyed this short history of a day that is very important to much of the American Population.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.