We just celebrated Halloween. Trick or treaters with sharp fangs and claws enjoyed a night of spooky fun and sugar rush. Being such a playful holiday it is hard not to spread the spirit with our neighbors, so in Mexico too kids go out and ask for their Calaveritas dressed in costumes and without any real intentions of tricking you.
But then on November 1st and 2nd we also celebrate Día de Muertos. Although the origins of the celebration of the Day of the Dead go back to pre-Hispanic times, it is celebrated now in connection to the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day. The idea is to remember our departed family and friends by setting up altars with offerings like their favorite food and memorabilia or personal objects for their souls to enjoy their visit to the world of the living during these two days. The first day is dedicated to the kids while the adults are honored on the second day.
The altars vary in style according to the region and local traditions, but in most of them cempasúchil flower will be found, as well as sugar skulls, cut out paper with different designs and candles. They will go from small offerings at home to very big productions in public places, like the ones displayed at the Zócalo Square in Mexico City. Some people will take them to the actual cemeteries and will adorn the tombs of their loved ones while they spend the night eating and praying.
There are traditional places where the spectacle is expected every year such as in Mixquic, near Mexico City and the island of Janitzio, in Michoacán. People from around the world travel to experience the impressive and beautiful ritual.
La Catrina, an elegant skull, was popularized by printmaker José Guadalupe Posada back in 1913 and has become a staple of Day of the Death expressed in different artistic designs. Another fun typical element are the Calaveras, short rhyming poems in “memory” of a person as if they were already deceased. Calaveras about public figures and politicians are often published in newspapers at this time to satirize or criticize them. More often, though, Mexicans come up with these playful rhymes to tease their friends or family members.
No celebration is complete without food. Again, although the traditional recipes will be as vast as the regions where the offerings are held, one of the most popular ones is Calabaza en Tacha, a pumpkin dessert prepared with cinnamon and piloncillo (dark sugar cones) and bakeries around the country sell Pan de Muerto (Day of the Dead bread, decorated with strips of dough simulating bones).
Mexicans are known for our festive spirit and Día de Muertos reflects it perfectly. We celebrate life, we handcraft our traditions, we are believers and we love great food!
In 2008 the festivity was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (originally proclaimed in 2003) by UNESCO. Thanks Mike Romo for the reference!
La neta neta como ya sabes que mi rollo es viva México Ca.. y nuestras tradiciones son tan chingonas en comparación con las gringas yo si no siento nada simpatia por el halloween, no me nace, no se me da y la neta siento que lo deberian deberian dejar para los niños unicamente porque los adultos hacen el ridiculo jajaja, bueno esa es solo mi amargura hablando porque ellos si que se divierten, lo chistoso es que si me invitan a una fiesta de Halloween en Mexico si me lanzo y me divierto harto, chale, el punto es que el Dia de Muertos es una celebración sagrada y el pinche halloween es pura basura comercial “a la gringue”. La neta. Como de costumbre tu artículo esta en el punto. Como han estado?
Jajaja! Me encanta que tu rollo sea Viva Mexico Ca… necesitamos mas de eso! Yo estoy a favor de lo que le divierta y signifique a cada quien. En Mexico de chicos nos divertiamos mucho con los vecinos pidiendo Halloween, pero siempre pusimos ofrenda en la casa y a la fecha. Aqui no celebro Halloween, pero porque nadie me invita a ninguna fiesta! Gracias por leerme