31/10/2017
The Day of the Dead in Mexico
There is one mysterious and ancient tradition included by UNESCO in the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity and it has inspired many artists, historians and anthropologists who observed it. It's the Day of the Dead in Mexico. Find out more about this magical date, and where better to celebrate this holiday. The origins of Day of the Dead date back to pre-Hispanic times. In the ancient Mexican cultures of the Aztecs, the Maya, the Totonacs and Purepecha the ideas of life and death have always been interrelated, one could not exist without the other. On this basis there was a lot of customs. For example, Indian peoples retained the bones of the dead and used them in their ceremonies as symbols of death and rebirth. Death was presented in all forms of expression and this tradition continues until now.
In the days of the Aztecs, the holiday was celebrated during the month in August. The goddess Mictlantecuhtli was the Queen of the dead, it’s analogous to the current Katrina (female skeleton, personifying death). The festival was dedicated to the memory of deceased relatives and children. In the XVI century when the Spanish conquistadors arrived, they treated the occasion with respect, but moved it at the beginning of November in order to coincide with the Catholic All Saints Day. All Saints day comes after Halloween, festivals descending from the Celtic Samhain, also associated with the dead. So, the Spanish evangelicals have combined all these traditions, from which the modern day of the dead was born.
However, celebrations in different regions of the country differ from each other. Because Mexico is a multicultural state, every city, nation and social group adds to the Day of the dead their own items. That is why it is impossible to name a single Catholic holiday, it is rather the result of the mixing of European and indigenous cultures. According to beliefs, the souls of children return to our world on November 1, but the main celebrations are held on the following day, when the souls of adults come. Early in the morning, families go to cemeteries to decorate the graves of relatives with amazing shrines which according to legend help souls to get back on the right path.
Altars and graves are decorated with candles and marigold flowers to the souls don’t be wandering in the dark. Also, the Mexicans bring the items associated with deceased: favorite children's toys, paintings, meals, beverages, flowers, etc.
Often at the altar you can find sugar skulls with names of the dead persons and traditional “bread of the dead”, which is made of sweet dough with stripes, symbolizing the bones. Some families also set up altars at home and there celebrate their deceased loved ones. In addition, Mexicans write poetry-Calavera, in which Katrina makes fun of living people recognizing their faults and condemn them to death. Every year the Newspapers print poems on politicians and other celebrities. In General, the attitude toward death in Mexico is multifaceted. It is solemn and celebratory, and despite the numerous jokes, the death is treated with respect and religious reverence. All this can be seen during Day of the dead.
Streets, squares, museums and churches are decorated with altars. At this time there are many contests for the best altar and various performances. In the beginning of November, all of Mexico is filled with Katrina, calendula flowers, colorful flags, skulls, skeletons and other items associated with the holiday. And these are just a few reasons why you should not miss the ancient celebration Mexico. This is one of the most surreal festivals in the world, the lively celebration of death. Don’t try to imagine it you must see it.
Have you ever been at the Day of the dead in Mexico?
