The Day of the Dead
Written by: Däsha Myers
October 14, 2022
El Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday and a time when families have the opportunity to rekindle a spiritual connection with the souls of their departed relatives. During October 31 to November 2, it is believed that in this time span the living and spiritual world link together, giving a chance for spirits to cross to the living world to celebrate with other deceased relatives through music, feasting, and dancing with one another.
A common tradition is that families place photos of their deceased relatives on an ofrenda, an altar decorated with anything that can range from a wide variety of food to candles, skulls, photographs, and bottles of water for the spirits. Ofrendas are decorated so elaborately with candles because the illumination from the candles will provide another way for the spirits to find their way back home to their families. The cempasuchil (marigold), is an iconic flower to the Day of the Dead celebrations because it is believed that the scent of the flower holds the ability to guide the spirits back to their families from their graves.
It is important to acknowledge that this holiday is not directly celebrating death itself, but rather recognizing it as a natural part of life, and families taking the time to celebrate those who have passed on and their impact in their family’s lives.
Helpful resources:
History.com Editors. “Day of the Dead (Día De Los Muertos).” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 30 Oct. 2018, https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-the-dead.
Lopez, Oscar. “What Is Day of the Dead, the Mexican Holiday?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Oct. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/article/day-of-the-dead-mexico.html.
“Mexbound.” MEXBOUND RSS, https://www.mexbound.com/day-of-the-dead/.
Alvarado, Elisabeth. “All about Day of the Dead Altars.” Spanish Mama, 3 Oct. 2022, https://spanishmama.com/day-of-the-dead-altar-and-elements/.
The Day of the Dead originates back to Indigenous cultures from nearly 3,000 years ago, the Aztec, Mexica, and Nahua people making generous contributions to today’s tradition. These festivities were especially dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl; the Lady of the Dead. In Aztec culture, the dead were viewed as having the ability to visit the living for a brief period of time. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, these traditions were implemented into the Catholic calendar, which is what Catholics now celebrate known as All Souls Day on November 2 where Catholics pray and honor the dead.