Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a festival commemorating the dead, celebrated in Mexico and various regions of Latin America. This special day is traditionally held on November 1 and 2 every year, but in some places it is also celebrated between October 31 and November 6.
Based on the traditions of ancient indigenous peoples such as the Aztecs Day of the Dead, Unlike Halloween, it is not intended to scare. The skeletons and skulls here are symbols of the dead. According to Mexican belief, true death occurs when someone is completely forgotten; The purpose of this festival is to ensure that those who died are not forgotten. Skulls made of sugar, scents loved by loved ones, and altars prepared with various decorations play an important role in keeping the memory of the dead alive.
in 2008 Intangible Cultural Heritage List by UNESCOThis festival, included in , carries deep symbolic meaning and is one of Mexico’s most vibrant annual events with its colorful rituals. Here’s everything you need to know about this important Mexican tradition:
Celebrations Go Back Thousands of Years
In a cemetery in Oaxaca, Mexico Day of the Dead During the celebration, flowers and candles decorate the graves. Origin of the Day of the Dead, Aztecs, Toltecs and other Nahua It is based on the people’s understanding of death. For these ancient cultures, death was a natural stage in the continuum of life, and the dead were still considered part of their community.
The dead are kept alive in memories and spirits and temporarily return during Día de los Muertos. Today’s celebrations are a combination of pre-Hispanic traditions and Catholic holidays. November 1 and 2 in the Catholic calendar All Saints’ Day and Saint Souls’ Day These celebrations, which overlap with , are also held during the corn harvest period.
A Cultural Heritage Recognized by UNESCO
Day of the Deadis one of Mexico’s most well-known holidays and is celebrated with offerings, family gatherings, and grave visits to commemorate the dead. UNESCO has stated that cultural heritage does not consist only of physical artifacts, but also traditions and rituals are an important part of culture.
Therefore, in 2008, Day of the Dead, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO It was accepted as. This recognition highlights the importance of the festival to both Mexicans and all cultures living around the world.
Altars: The Most Important Tradition of the Festival
Day of the Dead At the center of the celebrations are the ofrendas (altars) set up in homes and cemeteries. These altars are not prepared for the purpose of worship, but to bring back the souls of the dead. Altars feature foods, drinks, photos and candles loved by the deceased. Additionally, basic needs such as water are also added.
If the deceased is a child, small toys may also be placed on the altar. Marigold (marigold) petals are the most commonly used flowers to decorate these altars. Marigolds symbolize a function of guiding the souls of the dead to rest. Additionally, copal incense is used to purify the area.
Literary Calaveras
“Calavera” in Spanish “skull” It means and is a literary term used in Day of the Dead. In the late 18th century, short poems sarcastically addressing the living and the dead began to appear in newspapers. These poems were generally written in a humorous language aimed at those living in the world left behind by the dead.
This tradition is known as calaveras literarias (literary calaveras) and has become an indispensable part of the Day of the Dead today. These humorous poems are spread and heard among the public on the streets and through the media.
Calavera Catrina: Birth of the Graceful Skull
Calavera Catrinais one of the most iconic figures of this tradition. In the early 20th century, Mexican cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada depicted a skeleton dressed in elegant French garb as a symbol of death. This figure carries a social message criticizing the European-influenced lifestyle of the rich class.
This figure depicted by Posada became known as Calavera Garbancera over time. In 1947, famous artist Diego Rivera placed this figure in his mural Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park, creating a female version of her and calling her “Catrina.” Today, this elegantly dressed skull is the most common and recognizable symbol of the Day of the Dead.
Families Offer Foods That the Dead Love
It is widely believed that on the Day of the Dead, the souls of the dead will experience great hunger and thirst as they return to earth. Therefore, families They offer their loved ones’ favorite foods as offerings to the souls of the dead..
Among the most common offerings of the festival is pan de muerto (bread of the dead). This sweet bread often contains anise seeds and is decorated with bones and skulls made from the dough. The bones are placed in a circular pattern symbolizing the cycle of life.
Small drops of dough also represent sadness and loss. Skulls made of sugar are part of the sugar art brought to Mexico by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. These sugar skulls come in different sizes and shapes, often decorated with crystal colors.
Beverages consumed at the festival include pulk, a sweet fermented drink made from the agave plant, while atole is a hot, thin porridge made from corn flour with the addition of cinnamon, vanilla and cane sugar. Hot chocolate is also very popular.
Costumes Wear and Celebrations Become Lively
Day of the Dead is a very social celebration attended by people of all ages along the streets and squares. Participants usually dress in skeleton form; They paint their faces to resemble skulls and imitate the Calavera Catrina figure. These traditional clothes are complemented by suits and fancy dresses. Many celebrations use shells or other noise-making objects to increase excitement and keep spirits closer.
Streets are Decorated with Papel Picado
Papel picado (punched paper), the traditional papercraft of Mexico, is an important decoration adorning the streets. This elegant craft is created by shaping multi-layered colored papers by piercing them with hammer and chisel tips. Papel picado is a craft seen not only on the Day of the Dead, but throughout every period of Mexican culture. These colorful decorations symbolize both the fragility of life and the temporary effect of the wind and reflect the spirit of the celebrations.
Mexico City Hosts an Iconic Parade
While Día de los Muertos is celebrated in every corner of Mexico, Mexico City hosts the largest and most iconic parades of this festival. A major cultural event, this parade is spiced up with live music, bike rides, and other celebrations around the city. If you’re in Mexico City the weekend before the Day of the Dead, be sure to attend the big parade. This event offers an immersive experience that honors Mexico’s cultural heritage.
Different Communities Celebrate with Their Own Traditions
Different regions in Mexico develop their own unique traditions to celebrate the Day of the Dead. These celebrations vary depending on the cultural structure and local traditions of the region. Here are some important places:
Patzcuaro: Located in the state of Michoacán, about 362 km west of Mexico City, Pátzcuaro has one of the liveliest Day of the Dead celebrations. Here, local people take a boat ride on the lake and, placing a candle in each boat, row towards Janitzio Island and visit their graves. This nightly commemoration is one of the region’s most impressive traditions.
Mixquic: In this suburb of Mexico City, people clean their graves and decorate them with flowers, accompanied by the sound of bells from the historic Augustinian monastery. Local people pray in cemeteries to communicate with the souls of their loved ones.
Tuxtepec: Tuxtepec in the state of Oaxaca is famous for its colorful sawdust carpets. Local people decorate the streets with colorful sawdust, flower petals and other natural materials. These traditional carpets are exhibited in a competition held during the festival.
Aguascalientes: Aguascalientes is the birthplace of the famous carver José Guadalupe Posada, and celebrates for a week with the Festival de Calaveras (Skull Festival). This festival ends with a large skull parade and is an important event to celebrate the traditional culture of Mexico.
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