What is the history behind the Day of the Dead?
The roots of the Day of the Dead, celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world, go back some 3,000 years, to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.
Why did the Day of the Dead start?
Origins of Dia de Muertos When the Spaniards came to Mexico and introduced Catholicism to the indigenous people they blended traditions and beliefs to create their own customs. Dia de Muertos came to be from a mixture of the Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess, Mictecacihuatl, with the Catholic influence.
How did the Day of the Dead get started?
Day of the Dead history certainly began before Spanish explorers started arriving in Mexico in the 1500s. Having evolved over time, the modern-day version closely reflects an Aztec celebration. This celebration kicked off around the beginning of the month of August, and it lasted a full month.
How did Day of the Dead get its name?
Day of the Dead originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people, who considered mourning the dead disrespectful. For these pre-Hispanic cultures, death was a ...
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How did the Day of the Dead originate?
Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls' Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s. The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in Mexico on November 1 and 2, is like a family reunion—except dead ancestors are the guests of honor.
When did the Day of the Dead originate?
3,000 yearsOrigins of Day of the Dead The roots of the Day of the Dead, celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world, go back some 3,000 years, to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.
What are 5 facts about Day of the Dead?
Five facts about Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)It's not the same as Halloween. While Halloween is celebrated Oct. ... It originated in Mexico and Central America. ... It's a celebration of life, not death. ... The ofrenda is a central component. ... Flowers, butterflies and skulls are typically used as symbols.
Why do Catholics celebrate Day of the Dead?
This day is observed by the Roman Catholic Church to remember the souls of those who are in Purgatory. Purgatory is a place where people who are still considered members of the church go after they die, to atone for their sins before they go to Heaven.
Where did the Day of the Dead originate?
Origins of Day of the Dead. The roots of the Day of the Dead, celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world, go back some 3,000 years, to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what is now central Mexico held ...
Why is the Day of the Dead celebrated?
It’s an occasion for remembering and celebrating those who have passed on from this world, while at the same time portraying death in a more positive light, as a natural part of the human experience.
What do people bring to the graves of their loved ones on All Souls Day?
In medieval Spain, people would bring bring wine and pan de ánimas (spirit bread) to the graves of their loved ones on All Souls Day; they would also cover graves with flowers and light candles to illuminate the dead souls’ way back to their homes on Earth.
What do people wear on Day of the Dead?
During contemporary Day of the Dead festivities, people commonly wear skull masks and eat sugar candy molded into the shape of skulls. The pan de ánimas of All Souls Day rituals in Spain is reflected in pan de muerto, the traditional sweet baked good of Day of the Dead celebrations today.
What is the Mexican holiday of the dead?
How Is the Day of the Dead Celebrated? The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.
What are the two holidays that the Catholic Church celebrates in the fall?
Some of these customs survived even after the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, which (unofficially) adopted them into their celebrations of two Catholic holidays, All Saints Day and All Souls Day , celebrated on the first two days of November.
What is the holiday of November 2?
November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of ...
Where is the Day of the Dead celebrated?
Day of the Dead tends to be celebrated more elaborately in Central and Southern Mexico. All Souls Day is celebrated in parts of Europe but is nowhere near the equivalent of the festive celebrations of Day of the Dead in Mexico. How You Can Celebrate Day of the Dead.
What are the traditions of the Day of the Dead?
Traditions. The traditions surrounding Day of the Dead are rich with cultural influence and true to Mexican style they don’t lack color and substance. Altars ( Ofrendas) The Aztecs used to offer water and food to the deceased to help them on their journey to the land of the dead.
What do Mexicans celebrate on Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead is a 2-day celebration where it is believed that the passageway between the real world and the spirit world is open so our deceased loved ones can come back to visit us.
Why is the Day of the Dead celebrated in Mexico?
The holiday is a great way to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed.
How long in advance do you prepare for the Day of the Dead?
Family members prepare for several weeks in advance for the tradition by creating altars, decorating burial sites, and cooking specific Day of the Dead food.
Which countries celebrate the Day of the Dead?
Countries That Celebrate Day of the Dead. Mexico is not the only country that celebrates Day of the Dead. Many other Latin countries like Columbia, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela all have their distinct ways of welcoming back their passed loved ones.
Is Day of the Dead a Mexican tradition?
The traditions surrounding Day of the Dead are rich with cultural influence and true to Mexican style they don’t lack color and substance.
What is the food that is eaten on Day of the Dead?
During Day of the Dead festivities, food is both eaten by living people and given to the spirits of their departed ancestors as ofrendas ('offerings'). Tamales are one of the most common dishes prepared for this day for both purposes. Pan de muerto and calaveras are associated specifically with Day of the Dead.
What is the Mexican holiday of the dead?
All Saints' Day, All Souls Day, Halloween. The Day of the Dead ( Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated in Mexico and elsewhere associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, and is held on November 1 and 2. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering ...
What do godparents do after a child dies?
On November 1 of the year after a child's death, the godparents set a table in the parents' home with sweets, fruits, pan de muerto, a cross, a rosary (used to ask the Virgin Mary to pray for them) and candles. This is meant to celebrate the child's life, in respect and appreciation for the parents.
What do people do at the grave site?
In many places, people have picnics at the grave site, as well. Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes; these sometimes feature a Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other people, scores of candles, and an ofrenda.
What is the symbol of the Spanish holiday?
A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (in Spanish calavera ), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas (colloquial term for skeleton), and foods such as chocolate or sugar skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead.
What is the Mexican flower used to honor the dead?
Mexican cempasúchil (marigold) is the traditional flower used to honor the dead. Cempasúchil, alfeñiques and papel picado used to decorate an altar. Plans for the day are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead.
Do spirits of the dead eat food?
Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrendas ' food, so though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so the deceased can rest after their long journey.
Where did the Day of the Dead originate?
Upon death, a person was believed to travel to Chicunamictlán, or the Land of the Dead.
What is the day of the dead?
The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Latin American holiday in which families welcome the souls of their deceased relatives back for a short reunion.
What are the symbols of the Day of the Dead?
The most famous symbols related to the Day of the Dead are calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). The printer and cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada re-envisioned Mictecacíhuatl, the Aztec goddess of the underworld, into a female skeleton known now as the most recognizable Day of the Dead icon — la Calavera Catrina.
What do the dead leave on the ofrendas?
Living family members treat the deceased as honored guests and leave their favorite foods and other offerings on the ofrendas built in their homes or at their graves. Ofrendas are often decorated with candles and flowers including native red cock’s combs and bright orange marigolds, both flowers of the dead and thought to help spirits find their way back to earth and to their families.
What do family members do for the deceased?
Family members provide food, water, and tools to help the deceased in this difficult journey. Similarly, people leave food and other offerings on the graves of their loved ones or set them out on ofrendas (makeshift altars) in their homes for their deceased relatives to feast on and enjoy while visiting.
What do spirits of the dead drink?
Drinks and plates of fruit, food, and pan de muerto are said to give the spirits of the dead the strength to make the journey back to the spirit world. It’s said that the spirits remove the “essence” of the food and drink after they eat so altar food is no longer good the next day.
What do people do at night in a cemetery?
Even in the cemetery, the day and night include music, laughter, conversation, food, and remembering the loved ones who have gone on before them.
What is the Meaning of The Day of the Dead?
The annual Mexican celebration, Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), is a time when families gather to honor and remember deceased loved ones. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living families in homes, businesses and cemeteries. The Aztec honored their dead with fiestas and rituals during the harvest season. They viewed death as the beginning of the cycle of seasons and life.
What is the flower of the dead?
Water is also believed to be a main support of life. The flower of the dead is called Cempasúchil ( Náhuatl, or Aztec, name for marigold). Cempasúchil was the symbolic flower of death for the Aztecs, because once it is cut, it dies very quickly.
What is the bread for the dead called?
Pan de muerto, bread for the dead, is sweet and baked in shapes of skulls and human figures. Traditional loaves are round with a central raised knob of dough, representing the skull, with crossed bone-shaped decorations radiating from the central knob.
What is the day of the accidentados?
October 28th is the day of the Accidentados, those souls that died in accidents. On October 31st we honor the souls of children, called los angelitos. On November 1st, we remember the spirits of adults. The spirits are believed to depart the following day, November 2nd.
What is the symbol of death for Aztecs?
Cempasúchil was the symbolic flower of death for the Aztecs, because once it is cut, it dies very quickly. While orange and yellow marigolds are the main flowers, magenta terciopelo (ruby coxcombs) and nube (baby’s breath) are also traditionally displayed.
Where did the Day of the Dead originate?
The Day of the Dead dates back to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, when indigenous Nahua peoples, such as the Aztecs or Mexica people, celebrated and honoured those who had died.
When is the Day of the Dead?
The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a celebration held annually on 2 November, primarily in Mexico and Latin America, in which the dead are honoured and revered.
How is the Day of the Dead celebrated?
Today, the Day of the Dead is celebrated in a number of ways. Public ceremonies, such as parades, are held where dancing and festivities aim to please the visiting spirits of the dead.
What traditions did the Spanish bring to Mexico?
Christian traditions and notions of the afterlife then crept into the Day of the Dead, fusing with the region’s pre-Columbian celebrations. Delivering flowers, candles, bread and wine to the graves of dead loved ones, for example, was a medieval European practice that the Spanish brought to early modern Mexico.
Who created the Catrina in Day of the Dead?
The early 20th century saw the emergence of La Catrina in Day of the Dead symbolism. The political cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada created an etching of a female skeleton, seemingly of indigenous descent, donning a French dress and white make-up to hide her heritage.
When is the 500th anniversary of the Aztecs?
November 2019 marks the 500th anniversary of the meeting of Hernan Cortes and Aztec ruler Montezuma at the gates of the magnificent Aztec capital at Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. Caroline Dodds Pennock is a specialist in the Aztecs. She takes Dan on a whirlwind tour through the events of that extraordinary year and the gigantic impact of the Spanish conquest that followed.
When did the Spanish arrive in Mexico?
The Spanish arrived in what is now known as Mexico in the 16th century and set about enforcing Roman Catholicism upon the region.
When is the Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead is one very colorful celebration that honors death and those who have passed. It is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November, but this tradition dates all the way back to 1630s. Día de los Muertos skull is made either for children or for the offerings to be placed on altars (ofrendas) for Day of the Dead holiday. This tradition has roots in Mayan, Aztec and Toltec tradition for celebration of this holiday.
What is the Mexican symbol for the Day of the Dead?
So far, it is obvious that skulls and skeletons are the main symbol for the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. However, the most important symbol for this day certainly is the sugar skull or “calaveritas de azúcar”. They are white molded skulls with a person’s name written on the forehead, and the rest is decorated with ribbons and sweets.
Why are skulls made of sugar?
However, you’re probably wondering why do these skulls look so festive and why they are made of sugar. Their meaning dates back to the Spanish conquest. The tradition of honoring the dead has already existed in Mexico at the time, but the Spaniard brought them new learnings and customs. Among these new things they brought the idea of molding decorations from easily available ingredients. Since sugar was accessible to everyone in Mexico at the time, it was an obvious choice. So, once they learned how to make the skull molds with sugar and water, the idea od Day of the Dead skull grew and evolved into a very important symbol of that holiday.
What is the Dia de los Muertos skull?
What is more, the Dia de Los Muertos skull has become popular among Halloween costumes and it certainly is a great face paint phenomenon. However, in order to better understand the sugar skull, let’s see what it is and what it means.
Why do people put skulls on the altar?
Skulls are placed at the altar as decorations to recognize and celebrate the person who has passed. The person’s name is written on the calavera’s forehead, and the size of the skull will vary depending on the age of the deceased. The colors and decorations of the Día de los Muertos skull will also differ.
Overview
Origins, history, and similarities to other festivities
Mexican academics are divided on whether the festivity has genuine indigenous pre-Hispanic roots or whether it is a 20th-century rebranded version of a Spanish tradition developed during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas to encourage Mexican nationalism through an "Aztec" identity. The festivity has become a national symbol in recent decades and it is taught in the nation's school system asserting a native origin. In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List o…
Observance in Mexico
During Día de Muertos, the tradition is to build private altars ("ofrendas") containing the favorite foods and beverages, as well as photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so the souls will hear the prayers and the words of the living directed to them. These altars are often placed at home or in public spaces such as schools an…
Observances outside of Mexico
In many U.S. communities with Mexican residents, Day of the Dead celebrations are very similar to those held in Mexico. In some of these communities, in states such as Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, the celebrations tend to be mostly traditional. The All Souls Procession has been an annual Tucson, Arizona, event since 1990. The event combines elements of traditional Day of the Dead celeb…
Similar or related festivities
In Belize, Day of the Dead is practiced by people of the Yucatec Maya ethnicity. The celebration is known as Hanal Pixan which means 'food for the souls' in their language. Altars are constructed and decorated with food, drinks, candies, and candles put on them.
Día de las Ñatitas ("Day of the Skulls") is a festival celebrated in La Paz, Bolivia, on May 5. In pre-Columbian times indigenous Andeans had a tradition of sharing a day with the bones of their anc…
See also
• Bon (festival)
• Danse Macabre
• Qingming Festival
• Literary Calaverita
• Samhain
Further reading
• Andrade, Mary J. Day of the Dead A Passion for Life – Día de los Muertos Pasión por la Vida. La Oferta Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9791624-04
• Anguiano, Mariana, et al. Las tradiciones de Día de Muertos en México. Mexico City 1987.
• Brandes, Stanley (1997). "Sugar, Colonialism, and Death: On the Origins of Mexico's Day of the Dead". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 39 (2): 270–99. doi:10.1017/S0010417500020624. S2CID 145402658.
Origins of Day of The Dead
- Day of the Dead history includes a blend of religion, Mesoamerican ritual, and Spanish culture, and is celebrated every year from October 31 to November 2. Day of the Dead is an essential holiday in Mexico that honors and celebrates deceased loved ones. It’s believed that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and for 24 hours, th...
Day of The Dead vs. All Souls’ Day
- You might think Day of the Dead is the same as Halloween, but these are actually two distinct and unique celebrations. Pagan celebrations of the dead in ancient Europe consisted of feasting, dancing, and bonfires. Even after the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, some of these customs survived, which the church unofficially adopted into All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. People in …
The Beauty of The Día de Los Muertos
- Day of the Dead celebrates the lives of the deceased with parties, food, drink, and activities that the dead enjoyed while they were living. Día de los Muertos acknowledges death as a natural, integral part of the human experience — as normal and natural as birth, childhood, adulthood, and marriage. During this celebratory day, the dead are awakened from eternal sleep by the ones the…