Dia de los Muertos, most known as Day of the Dead, is a celebration of family, tradition and death in the Mexican community. The celebration begins October 27th and goes through November 2nd. Throughout the week, items such as food and pictures are placed on an altar (Ofrenda) in the hope that the souls of their loved ones will visit. Every year the tradition serves as a reminder to honor the ancestors.
Origin
The traditions of Day of the Dead date back to the Aztec Empire before the Spanish Conquistadors colonized it with Catholic ideals. As the Spanish invaded The Americas, Catholicism was forced upon indigenous people. Spain conquered The Aztecs, forcing many of the natives to convert to Catholicism.
Aztec Mythology explains a “Lady of the Dead” or “Mictecachiuatl,” who watches over the bones of those who have passed. She was known as the Goddess of death, sacrificed as a baby and grew to adulthood in the underworld; Aztecs used the entire ninth month of their calendar to celebrate her. It was common to bury the dead with food and precious gems in order to please her when she came for the bones.
Mixing Cultures
Modern Day of the Dead involves similar traditions of The Aztec Empire and Spanish Catholicism. Mictecachiuatl, Lady of the Dead, was replaced with “La Catrina,” who represents the cycle of life and death. La Catrina shows a symbolic message that death should be celebrated and its normality.
Both these cultural figures have a very similar look. Both La Catrina and Mictecachiuatl have skeleton bodies and cultural head pieces. La Catrina wears a sombrero with flowers and feathers, while Mictecachiuatl’s headdress contains feathers and bones. La Catrina is simply a symbol to remember and celebrate the dead. Mictecachiuatl was the goddess of death to the Aztecs rather than an idea.
Traditions and Imagery
As the souls return to visit their loved ones, special items are used to represent different materials. The altar, or “ofrenda,” is a designated space of offerings for those who died. Food, personal belongings, and traditional symbols are placed in the altar to welcome the souls. Commonly, Calaveras, also known as “sugar skulls,” are placed on this altar. They are inscribed with the deceased person’s name on the forehead to honor them.
Marigolds are an important symbol all throughout Day of the Dead. This beautiful yellow and orange flower guides the souls from the after life to the altar. Marigolds were commonly used for medicine and bringing hope with their vibrant color. The graves of the dead are also decorated with sand, offerings, and sculptures to lead up to Day of the Dead.
Long Live the Dead
Day of the Dead is a great way to celebrate loved ones and honor the dead. Death is a cycle that should be celebrated, not dreaded. Today, thousands come together and pay respect to their ancestors: Parades, expos, and statues are made to show support of the traditions throughout the years. It’s important to keep Day of the Dead alive to honor the culture and background this day comes from.