Did you know that the Day of the Dead is known as Día de Muertos in Spanish? This important holiday is celebrated in Mexico and across the world on November 2nd each year. However, Dia de Los Muertos celebrations often start a few weeks before with the most important events held from October 31 through November 2. During this holiday, families come together to reminisce and honor their deceased loved ones. This moment is a sacred, joyous time where people celebrate their loved ones, we loved who have passed on before us. Likewise, Day of the Dead traditions include special foods, flowers, and altars are constructed as well. Family members tell stories about those who have died and even spend the night at grave sites remembering their loved ones. Meanwhile, read below about celebrating Día de Los Muertos in Mexico.

 

Día de Los Muertos Info

First, did you know that the first Day of the Dead celebrations can be traced to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica? It’s true! During the time of the Aztecs, friends and family would spend an entire month dedicated to the dead. It was believed that festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl. Back then, the annual ancient celebration featured skeletons and altars and simultaneously celebrated life and embraced death. Also, Marigold flowers are believed to help guide the deceased on a pathway between the mortal world and the afterlife. As a result, marigold flowers are often found on altars and Day of the Dead decor. In addition, yellow and orange colors are used in this holiday to represent marigolds, the sun, and light, and the color red is used to represent blood.

 

Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico

Continue reading here to learn more about Día de Los Muertos celebrations in Mexico. In Mexico, when someone passes away, family and friends will hold a vigil for the deceased that typically lasts for 24 to 48 hours or more. During the vigil, they will eat and drink together, guests will pray and bring the gifts, and they share stories about the loved one. Then, the deceased will then be buried with their clothing and sometimes important possessions are included as well. During Día de Los Muertos on November 2nd, friends and family often return to the gravesite of their loved one in order to pay their respects, clean up their loved ones’ grave site, and leave gifts, flowers, and food. Sometimes, people will even stay overnight while sharing stories, drinks, laughter, and remembering with a full heart.

 

Day of the Dead Traditions

Day of the Dead traditions are important to this special holiday. For starters, altars or ofrendas in Spanish are one of the most important parts of Día de Los Muertos. Ofrendas or altars are specifically constructed in homes or at the cemetery where a loved one is buried. In addition to altars, Day of the Dead Festivals and parades are another very popular part of celebrations. During festivals and parades, you will see vibrant colored papel picado, colorful paper decorations with cutouts strung above. Last but not least, La Catrina is an important figure in Day of the Dead. La Catrina is a skeleton woman wearing elegant clothes that has been the inspiration for many men and women to adorn skull makeup and similar clothing to imitate her during the Mexican holiday.

 

Day of the Dead Altars

The tradition of constructing Day of the Dead altars is now practiced in homes, offices, schools, and more. If created for a specific person, altars will contain the favorite foods and beverages of the deceased, as well as photos and memorabilia. The purpose of creating the altar is to invite visits by the deceased person. Would you like to create a Day of the Dead altar for a loved one who has passed on? 4 important elements that should be included in a Day of the Day altar are water, wind, earth, and fire. To start with, water can be left in a pitcher so that the spirits can easily quench their thirst. Secondly, Papel picado, or traditional paper banners, represents the wind. Next, the element of the earth is represented by food, especially bread. Last but not least, fire is represented by various candles that are placed on the fire and lit. Other common features of altars include sugar skulls, oil cloths, alebrijes, and the favorite foods and drinks of the deceased.

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