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About Day of the Dead
The festival of the Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one with very ancient roots in Mexico. Dating back to pre-Columbian times there were very elaborate rituals and philosophies concerning the life-death cycle. For them, life was no more than a passing moment.
The Spanish Conquest of 1521 brought about the fusion of Catholic attitudes and indigenous beliefs. The Catholic religion introduced fear of death and the concept of Hell. Death was represented as a skeleton with a scythe in hand. The Day of the Dead was revealed as an amalgamation of Pre-Spanish Indian ritual beliefs and the imposed ritual and dogma of the Catholic church. Today, traditions associated with the Day of the Dead reflect the Mexican belief in the duality of life and death. They believe that death is just an extension of life. It’s part of a natural progression, not an end.
The Dias de los Muertos is celebrated each year on November 1st and 2nd. On these days it is believed the dead come from the beyond to visit with the living. Special foods are prepared, breads are baked, and flowers of the season collected. In some villages, the community prepares tables laden with offerings of food and drink for the spirits of the dead. Flowers are used to decorate arches and walkways, and wax candles are prepared and lit.
Often when people of other cultures hear for the first time about the celebration of the Day of the Dead, they mistakenly think it is morbid, scary or sad. Nothing further from the truth, Day of the Dead is a festive occasion of beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily and lovingly remember their relatives that have died and, in this way, give meaning and continuity to human existence. The Day of the Dead is a grand celebration of life itself.
The festival of the Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one with very ancient roots in Mexico. Dating back to pre-Columbian times there were very elaborate rituals and philosophies concerning the life-death cycle. For them, life was no more than a passing moment.
The Spanish Conquest of 1521 brought about the fusion of Catholic attitudes and indigenous beliefs. The Catholic religion introduced fear of death and the concept of Hell. Death was represented as a skeleton with a scythe in hand. The Day of the Dead was revealed as an amalgamation of Pre-Spanish Indian ritual beliefs and the imposed ritual and dogma of the Catholic church. Today, traditions associated with the Day of the Dead reflect the Mexican belief in the duality of life and death. They believe that death is just an extension of life. It’s part of a natural progression, not an end.
The Dias de los Muertos is celebrated each year on November 1st and 2nd. On these days it is believed the dead come from the beyond to visit with the living. Special foods are prepared, breads are baked, and flowers of the season collected. In some villages, the community prepares tables laden with offerings of food and drink for the spirits of the dead. Flowers are used to decorate arches and walkways, and wax candles are prepared and lit.
Often when people of other cultures hear for the first time about the celebration of the Day of the Dead, they mistakenly think it is morbid, scary or sad. Nothing further from the truth, Day of the Dead is a festive occasion of beautiful ritual in which Mexicans happily and lovingly remember their relatives that have died and, in this way, give meaning and continuity to human existence. The Day of the Dead is a grand celebration of life itself.
