Celebrating "Dia de los Muertos". What does it all mean?
"Dia de los Muertos" is a time to remember and honor the deceased loved ones, with the idea that the spirits return on this one day of the year to be together with their families. Many of these celebrations take place in cities and villages throughout Mexico, though each location may have different customs and ways of honoring their dead.
{Photo Credit: Amaresh Sundaram Kuppuswamy | Daily Trojan}
I found this great
site that explains it perfectly. I did take an excerpt from it, but for the
full article, please be sure to visit their
site.
From the beginning of time, man has felt the need to explain the mystery of life and death. Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals to try and give meaning to human existence. Where do we come from?
- Why does life end?
- Is there "life" after death?
- If so, what kind of "life"?
- Can we do something while alive so we can enjoy "life" after death?
These are some of the questions man has asked himself in order to understand our finite existence on this earth.To the indigenous peoples of Mexico, death was considered the passage to a new life and so the deceased were buried with many of their personal objects, which they would need in the hereafter. Many times even their pets were sacrificed so they would accompany their masters on their long journey.
From pre-Columbian times, El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead has been celebrated in Mexico, and other Latin countries. This is a very special ritual, since it is the day in which the living remember their departed relatives.Sometimes, when people of other cultures hear for the first time about the celebration of the Day of the Dead, they mistakenly think it must be: gruesome, terrifying, scary, ugly and sad. Nothing further from the truth, Day of the Dead is a beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily and lovingly remember their loved relatives that have died. Much like when we go to a graveyard to leave some lovely flowers on a tomb of a relative.Although I was born in Mexico, yet raised in Houston, I was brought up with many of our cultural celebrations. My siblings and I were fortunate to celebrate Halloween, having the opportunity to dress up in costume, knock on the neighbors' doors and ask for candy. My parents also taught us of the traditions that are celebrated every year in Mexico, as Halloween isn't really a holiday in this country. Mexico, along with other Latin American countries celebrate
"Dia de los Muertos". So, a quick history lesson about celebrating this special holiday in Mexico...
"Dia de los Muertos" can be traced back to the indigenous cultures; rituals celebrating the deaths of their ancestors, for as long as 2,500–3,000 years. It was common to keep skulls of their loved ones as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.
The festival that became the modern
Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess known as the
"Lady of the Dead", corresponding to the modern
Catrina.
In most regions of Mexico, November 1st honors children and infants,
"Dia de los Inocentes" or
"Dia de los Angelitos" {Day of the Innocents/Day of the Little Angels}, whereas deceased adults are honored on November 2nd,
"Dia de los Muertos" {Day of the Dead}.
Celebrate:Celebrating
"Dia de los Muertos" in Mexico is truly a joyous time. Families begin preparations of special foods in honor of those who have departed. Oftentimes, these special dishes consist of the departeds' favorite meal. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of
"papel picado", flowers, candy
"calaveras" {skulls} and parades.
It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31st and leave on November 2nd.
In preparation of these celebrations, the families create an altar for their departed. The altars are usually an elaborate display, filled with offerings of food such as
"pan de muertos" {bread of the dead}, baked in shapes of skulls and figures,
"calaveras de dulce" {candied skulls}, candles, incense, yellow and orange Marigolds, also known as
"cempazuchitl" and most importantly a photo of the departed soul.
I came across the top seven locations in Mexico for celebrating
"Dia de los Muertos":
Janitzio and Patzcuaro, MichoacanJanitzio is a small island in Patzcuaro Lake and is easily reached by boat from Patzcuaro. The island is home to the Purepecha indigenous group {sometimes called Tarascans} who have elaborate
"Dia de los Muertos" rituals. There are processions and music, folk dances are performed and families gather in the cemetery to spend the night chanting and singing. Perhaps the most impressive sight is the fishermen in their rowboats with torches lighting up the lake.
{Photo Credit: Guillermo Aldana, Courtesy of the Mexican Tourism Board}
Oaxaca, OaxacaVisitors to Oaxaca during
"Dia de los Muertos" can visit colorful marketplaces in nearby villages {the Friday market in Ocotlan is outstanding}, witness vigils in a variety of cemeteries and take part in night-time carnival-like processions called
"comparsas". There are also sand tapestry competitions and
"Dia de los Muertos" altars set up throughout town.
More information:
Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
{Photo Credit: Suzanne Barbezat}
Mixquic, located in the Tlahuac Delegation of Mexico City {southwest of the Mexico City center} has been swallowed up by Mexico City's urban sprawl, but retains the ambiance of a rural village with strong indigenous roots. Street stalls are set up in the days before the celebrations. A procession through town with a cardboard coffin leads the way to the cemetery where a candle-light vigil will take place.
{Photo Credit: Federico Mena-Quintero}
Merida, YucatanIn the Mayan language
"Dia de los Muertos" celebrations are referred to as
Hanal Pixan, which means "feast for the souls." Families gather to prepare a special seasoned chicken tamale wrapped in banana leaves {called pibipollo}, which is cooked underground in a pit. The dish is enjoyed by both the spirits, who are believed to consume its essence, and the living, who enjoy the real thing! There are also festivities in the streets and cemeteries.
{Photo Credit: Courtesy of Xcaret}
Aguascalientes, GuadalajaraThe birthplace of engraver, Jose Guadalupe Posada, celebrates
"Dia de los Muertos" every year with the "Festival de las Calaveras" {Festival of Skulls} from October 28th to November 2nd. The festival takes place on the city fairgrounds with exhibitions of handicrafts, stands with traditional food and seasonal fruit, and varied theater productions and concerts. The grand parade of "calaveras" along Aguascalientes' Avenida Madero is a highlight of the festival.
{Photo Credit: Courtesy of Festival de las Calaveras}
Riviera MayaXcaret theme park in the Riviera Maya hosts an annual "Festival de la Vida y la Muerte", {Festival of Life and Death}, in honor of
"Dia de los Muertos". The festival runs from October 30th to November 2nd, and includes theater and dance performances, concerts, conferences, parades and special tours, as well as special
"Dia de los Muertos" rituals.
{Photo Credit: Courtesy of Xcaret}
Chiapa de Corzo, ChiapasThis pleasant colonial town on the Rio Grijalva is 7 miles from Tuxtla de Gutierrez, capital of the Mexican state of Chiapas. For
"Dia de los Muertos", the cemetery is decorated in a lively manner with colorful ribbons, flowers and candles. There is live music in the cemetery as families serenade the deceased on their short-lived return.
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