Celebrating the Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 2nd each year, throughout Mexico and Latin America. It celebrates death and the connection of those who have died with those who still live on this earth. The celebration coincides with the Catholic holidays, All Saint’s Day, celebrated on November 1st, and All Soul’s Day, celebrated November 2nd. They believe that the dead find it easier to communication with the living on the Day of the Dead, and that they actually come back to visit. The celebration itself dates back to the Aztec civilization. They believed that the living and the dead had existences that were very much a part of each other, and communication could take place between the two. Many times gravesites would be left open, and relatives could enter tombs and leave food and other articles for their dead loved ones. Death is not something to fear, it is something to embrace. The Mexican culture reveres death, and the celebratory atmosphere present during the Day of the Dead indicates just that. Some of the things one would see if visiting Mexico on November 2nd would be sugar skulls and altars, or offrendas, built by individuals to honor dead loved ones. People will also redecorate gravesites at cemeteries with artificial flowers and things that the dead loved one enjoyed while he or she was alive. Altars constructed in the home generally contain photographs of the deceased as well as favorite possessions, marigolds, fruits, water, scented candles, and the deceased’s favorite food. The smell of the candles brings the spirits back home to their loved one. Skeletons and skulls are common symbols during the Day of the Dead celebration, and gifts of such are given to both the living and the dead during this time. Vendors sell sugar skulls and chocolate skulls, and many children and adults make the skulls themselves. Skulls that are made for the dead are often inscribed with their names, and children are allowed to eat those as well when the celebration is over. There are many types of food made and eaten during the celebration. Foods that the deceased enjoyed are put on the altars for them to enjoy when they come back. Families also enjoy a time of food and drinking and celebration also, though. As noted earlier, sugar and chocolate skulls abound for the sweet tooth. Other foods one can find on an altar may be atole, a drink made of corn meal and water flavored with fruit, and the tamale, also made of corn. Tequila was also offered on altars to entice loved ones’ spirits to return. Pan de Muetro, or “Bread of the Dead,” can also be made into the shape of skeletons, skulls, and bones. In some regions this bread is sprinkled with sugar or anise, or other shapes may be used such as rabbits or other animals. There are many misconceptions about the Day of the Dead. Many people compare it to America’s Halloween. Halloween, however, involves an essence of fear and being scary. Americans also have a different view of death than those in Mexico, to there is little room for comparison. The Mexican focus during the Day of the Dead is on the souls of the deceased themselves, where Halloween is simply for fun and dressing up and getting candy. Mexicans treat the Day of the Dead with reverence not set aside for Halloween. In the past few years Halloween has begun to creep into many areas of Mexico, but they are resisting due to the huge difference between not only the holidays, but also the difference in view of death between the two cultures. Mexico’s love for their deceased is evidenced on November 2nd more than any other day, and it is shown abundantly in their celebration of the Day of the Dead.
|