In the United States, we mourn our loved ones with funeral services and dark clothing. It can be a hard time for families having to say goodbye to someone forever. Different cultures treat death differently with traditions that have been around for centuries.
Mexico has created a unique way of celebrating death: Día de los Muertos. The people, the music, and the food are bright, loud, and colorful.
“Día de los Muertos is a holiday that is a time to remember loved ones who have passed away,” Señora Chimbo said.
Day of the Dead is a two day celebration, celebrated on November 1st, and 2nd. The celebration arose from rituals performed by Indigenous peoples in what is known now as Mexico and Central America. The Aztecs would meet with a goddess named Miccaihuitl. They would make offerings to the goddess and the deceased as part of a death ritual. The Aztecs believed that the dead were not gone, instead they had a relationship with the living and offerings were made to maintain this relationship. It is believed that there is a passageway through the real world and the spirit world so that loved ones can come back to visit us.
November 1st is All Saint’s Day. Many people attend special masses or services dedicated to saints. People might spend time reflecting on the lives of specific saints they admire. They might read about saints’ lives and see how they could include their virtues into their own lives.
November 2nd is All Souls’ Day. People often visit the graves of loved ones and decorate them with flowers and candles as a symbol of remembrance and to guide the souls.
Family members plan several weeks in advance for Día de los Muertos. They create ofrendas, prepare food, and decorate burial sites. During the two day celebration, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the real world to feast, dance, and play music with their loved ones. In return, families treat the deceased as guests and leave the deceased’s favorite foods and other offerings at gravesites or on ofrendas inside their homes.
“My parents have an ofrenda in our living room and we have it year round,” Senior Janiya Powell said. “We only make offerings on Día de los Muertos.”
Day of the Dead is a joyful time that helps people remember their loved ones and celebrate their memory.
