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La Catrina has become one of the biggest symbols of Day of the Dead with people painting their faces with skulls and flowers. The skulls (calaveras) and skeletons (calacas) that are so prominent in today’s festivities came about at the beginning of the 19th century when cartoonist and social activist José Guadalupe Posada drew La Catrina to protest the Mexican people’s desire to look more European. They are decorated with colorful edible paint, glitter, beads, and sport huge smiles. There is nothing grim about these skulls. Today, during Dia de Los Muertos, small decorated sugar skulls are placed on the altars. Skulls were used during rituals in the Aztec era and passed on as trophies during battles. The Marigold flower is thought to guide the spirits back with their intense color and pungent smell. Marigolds are used during Dia de Muertos celebrations by being placed on the altars and on the burial sites. The ofrendas usually consist of water, the loved one’s favorite food and drink items, flowers, bread, and other things that celebrate the dead person’s life. Now, Mexican families set up beautifully decorated altars in their homes and place photos of the loved ones they have lost along with other items. The Aztecs used to offer water and food to the deceased to help them on their journey to the land of the dead. The traditions surrounding Day of the Dead are rich with cultural influence and true to Mexican style they don’t lack color and substance. This is a reflective and lively get-together honoring the deceased back to celebrate life and enjoy all the human things again. There is festive music and definitely no crying or grieving. Flowers, altars, food, and music are all integral parts of the holiday.įamilies will gather during the night at the cemeteries (panteons), light candles, and place flowers on the burial sites of their lost loved ones. Today’s customs regarding Day of the Dead festivities have morphed over the years to become the distinct tradition it is now. Mexicans have since transformed it into a truly unique holiday that they honor every year. The church rejected the Aztec’s beliefs and turned it into All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day making it on 2 days to fall into the catholic calendar. Mictecacihuatl is the “lady of the dead” and it is said that she watches over the bones of the dead and swallows the stars during the day. When the Spaniards came to Mexico and introduced Catholicism to the indigenous people they blended traditions and beliefs to create their own customs.ĭia de Muertos came to be from a mixture of the Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess, Mictecacihuatl, with the Catholic influence. It is said that on November 1st the children who have passed come back to visit and celebrate as angelitos and on the following day, November 2nd, it’s the adults (Difuntos) turn to show up for the festivities.įamily members prepare for several weeks in advance for the tradition by creating altars, decorating burial sites, and cooking specific Day of the Dead food. It is sometimes confused with Halloween because of the symbolic skulls but is not related at all. When Is Day of the Deadĭay of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. We sing, dance, and rejoice before he heads back to the underworld for another year. What do we do when grandpa comes back from the land of the dead? We make his favorite meal and we offer him his favorite drink. So when it comes to death, in true Mexican style, Mexicans celebrate with color, food, and music.ĭay 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. The people, the food, and the celebrations are bright, loud, and unequaled. Mexico is colorful, noisy, and lots of fun. One culture that has created a unique and interesting way to face death and the deceased is Mexico. Different cultures grieve and treat death differently with traditions that have been around for centuries. It’s usually a sad time in our families when we have to say goodbye to grandpa forever.

Here in the USA, we mourn our loved ones when they pass with funeral services and wearing dark solemn clothing.