Dia de los Muertos
A Celebration of Life
What is the Day of the
Dead?
The Day of the Dead is a joyous
celebration unique to Mexico.
It combines Christian and
Pre-Hispanic religious beliefs
and traditions. Each family
builds a shrine to honor and
pay loving tribute to departed
family members. Dia de los
Muertos concentrates on the
continuity of life and the
devotion of family.
This day of remembrance is both a cultural and religious
event. It is the most important holiday in Mexico. The
way in which it is celebrated differs from region to
region due to the differences that have been passed
down since ancient times in each region. So if you
were to see a Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico
City, for example, it would differ greatly from the way
people would be celebrating it in Cuilapan, Oaxaca, an
ancient capital of the Zapotec people.
City vs. Country
The more urban the setting the less
religious and cultural the festivities will be
within Mexico. The more rural and Indian
the locality the more likely the religious
and economic aspects will play a main
role in the celebration . Also, the greater
likelihood that the Day of the Dead will be
seen as a social event in southern Mexico
rather than in the northern part of the
country.
When is Dia de los Muertos?
The Day of the Dead is celebrated from October
31st through November 2nd. These dates
correspond with All Saints Day and All Souls
Day, traditional Catholic celebrations. But Dia
de los Muertos is NOT in any way to be
considered as Mexico’s form of our Halloween.
It is, in fact, much closer to our celebration of
Memorial Day. Neither is it the only holiday
around the world set aside as a day of
remembrance. In other countries and cultures,
there are similar holidays which pay tribute to
the dead.
Canada
On November 11th each year,
Canadians celebrate
Remembrance Day by
wearing red poppies. They
gather at memorial sites to
honor those who died in war.
At the 11th hour of the 11th
day of the 11th month, the
time the Armistice of World
War I was signed in 1918,
Canadians observe two
minutes of silence as a way
of remembering the dead.
Yom Ha’Shoa
People here are attending the
remembrance ceremony at Israel's
Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem to
commemorate Holocaust Remembrance
Day in April. Some of the people shown
here are Holocaust survivors.
This is a Jewish
day of
remembrance
celebrated by
Jews worldwide
to honor the six
million Jews who
died in the
Holocaust in
World War II.
How is the Day of the Dead
celebrated?
In every home, families set up an altar
(ofrenda) that is dedicated to their
departed loved ones. The offerings that
are placed on the altar symbolize the
four elements:
1. Earth
2. Wind
3. Water
4. Fire.
Earth
Mexicans symbolize the earth with crops
because they believe that the souls of the
dead are fed by the scent of food.
Wind
A moving object is used to symbolize wind.
Often tissue paper is strung over and
around the altar in streamers to represent
the wind.
Water
A pitcher filled with water is placed on the
altar so the dead can quench their thirst.
Fire
Mexicans light candles to stand for the
souls of their departed. Each lit candle
represents one soul and an extra one is lit
for any soul who may have been
forgotten.
What else goes on the
altar?
Families may put purple or white candles which symbolize
mourning, calaveritas (skulls made out of sugar) labeled with
the name of the dead person, and some of his or her favorite
food and drinks like beer or tequila, cups of atole (corn gruel),
coffee, or water on the ofrenda. The food may include large
trays of rice, beans, chicken or other meat, candied pumpkin
or sweet potatoes and “pan de muerto”, sugary sweet rolls
baked especially for the holiday.
If the deceased was a smoker, a pack of cigarettes is placed on
the altar, and for children, a scattering of toys and extra
sweets are traditional.
Altars are set up on tables with overturned crates to create a
tiered effect, then covered with tablecloths. All the offerings
are set out in an artistic and symmetrical fashion to create a
beautiful display.
Angelitos
The lowest tier of the altar is used to display
things for children who have died
(angelitos). It is believed that the souls of
the children return first so food and gifts
appropriate for their age and taste are set
out for them where it is easiest for them
to reach. Everything is in miniature: cups,
plates, small breads, etc.
Legend has it that if you take something from
the ofrenda, a ghost will come in the middle
of the night and pull your toes!
Adults
Deceased adults return on Nov. 1st and they are
given the most elaborate foods and drinks the
family can afford. Mexicans believe that light
from burning candles, combined with the scents
of marigold flowers and copal incense, help
returning souls find their way back to their loved
ones. Paths of marigold petals are strewn from
the cemetery to the door of the house. The
dead can find their way by following this bright,
colorful path. The spirits are not usually seen,
but their presence is said to be felt.
Todos Santos
The days between Oct. 31st and
Nov. 2nd are called "Todos
Santos”. That is when the
offerings made up of food and
drink are prepared for the dead
and displayed on the altars. On
Nov. 2nd, families go to the
gravesites of their loved ones. In
some places, an all-night
candlelight vigil takes place
beside the graves. This is a
festive time and everyone talks of
the dead as if they were still alive.
It is a way for people to
"remember, re-live, and enjoy."
On the lighter side…
The Day of the Dead is more than just a day for remembering
their loved ones. This holiday lets families "welcome the
souls of their dead." The souls are believed to return each
year to enjoy the pleasures that they once had in life. It also
gives the living a chance to poke fun at the morbid side of
death symbolized by the “Grim Reaper.” So skeleton
costumes and skulls made of sugar are often seen during
the celebration.
At the Cemetery
The celebration ends with a visit to the family plot where
displays are made from beautiful, creative pieces of
popular art found in markets and shops all over
Mexico. Although customs differ from region to region,
there will always be colorful adornments such as the
calaveritas; all kinds of funny, artsy skeletons; delicate
tissue paper cut-outs (papel picado); tasty foods;
pictures of the departed; religious ceremonies; music;
and in some areas even noisy fireworks.
Graves are trimmed
with brightly colored
wreaths and crosses
made with flowers
which can be fresh
or artificial. The
traditional flower for
Dia de los Muertos
is the marigold
because its sunny Cempasuchil (yellow marigolds)
color is a reminder were the ancient Aztec flower of
of happy times.
death.
The Day’s Events
Families begin their
celebration by
welcoming their dead
back into their homes
then visiting the graves
of their close kin. At
the cemetery, they
spruce up the
gravesite, decorate it
with flowers, enjoy a
picnic, and socialize
with other family and
neighbors there.
The Mexican people tell folktales of dead spirits who
get revenge on the living if they feel they have
received poor treatment during Dia de los Muertos.
Leaving nothing or less than the best gifts on the
altar can make the spirits angry or sad. These
superstitions may be the reason so many people
participate in this holiday celebration every year.
People believe that the souls of their dead
do return and are all around them.
The families tell stories
about the deceased at
the gravesite. A picnic
meal is shared there.
The foods are
delicious with meat
dishes in spicy
sauces, chocolate
drinks, cookies,
sugary treats in a
variety of animal or
skull shapes, and a
special egg-batter
bread ("pan de
muerto," or bread of
the dead).
In every region of the country, it is a time for
families to come together.
So this commemoration of the dead becomes a
family reunion with joyous celebration between
the living and the dead. It is an important social
ritual, a way of recognizing the cycle of life and
death as the true meaning of human existence.
A Different Point of View
It may seem strange to us but Mexicans see
"death" and "festivities" as going hand in hand.
To us, it may be difficult to grasp the idea, but
Mexicans react to death with a grief tinged with
happiness and joy. They view it as a life - death
- rebirth continuum and it is all quite natural to
them. The difference in the way Mexicans look
at death owes to the fact that they accept it as
an inevitable and inescapable end to life. So
instead of seeing death as a horrible force
beyond human comprehension and living in
constant fear of the day when they, too, will die,
they take it in good humor.
Death is something to be mocked at according to
the Mexican way of looking at it. La calaca (the
skeleton), la flaca ("skinny"), la pelona ("baldy")
and la huesada ("bony") are some of the
common derogatory adjectives they use for
death. There are also songs, poems and
refrains associated with the Day of the Dead.
Octavio Paz
Octavio Paz, a famous writer from Mexico
said," Mexicans, undaunted by death,
have no qualms about getting up close
and personal with death, chasing after it,
mocking it, courting it, embracing it as
their favorite plaything and their most
lasting love.”
What do you think he meant by this?
Catrina
Who is Catrina and what does she have to
do with Dia de los Muertos?
Jose Guadalupe Posada
(1852-1913)
Jose Posada was a Mexican artist whose artwork
came to represent the celebration of Day of the
Dead. In Mexico, people were either very rich
or very poor. His most famous creation,
Catrina, represented a wealthy woman dressed
in all her finery. But Posada was poking fun at
the rich through Catrina by asking in death,
what difference will it make if you were rich?
After all, you’re still as dead as if you had been
poor.
Variations on Catrina
Why do you think Mexicans
might find Posada’s art
appealing?
Other Posada Works
What Day of the Dead Isn’t
It is not Mexico’s version of our Halloween.
Started in the year 1800 B.C., Day of the
Dead began long before Halloween.
It is not intended to be scary or morbid.
Characters like ghosts, witches, or the devil
do not play a part in Day of the Dead
traditions.
Day of the Dead is not a cult and has
nothing to do with cults. It is a Catholic
Christian ritual mixed with folk culture.
Attending mass is a central part of
celebrating Day of the Dead.
Day of the Dead is not a way of honoring
death; it is a way of honoring our dead
family members. It allows us the chance to
reflect upon our lives, our heritage, our
loved ones and our purpose in life.
Altars or ofrendas are not worshiped
but intended as a way of offering our
love and devotion to departed loved
ones.
Day of the Dead is not a sad time, but
rather a happy and festive time for
remembering loved ones. At the
cemetery, people grow introspective.
Why?
Day of the Dead is about LOVE, not
fear.
Day of the Dead
is not to be
considered as
“strange” in any
way. After all,
we practice
similar traditions
like visiting a
loved one’s
grave, leaving
flowers or stuffed
animals, or
lighting candles
for our lost loved
ones.
Day of the Dead is not a careless or
fearless way of looking at death.
Instead, it is a time to ponder the
cycle of life and death, to consider
one’s own life and purpose in life.
Want to join in on the
celebration now? You, too,
can make an ofrenda.
This ofrenda
was created
in an
elementary
school art
class in Las
Vegas.
Any questions?
Ask your teacher…