Day of the Dead

“Day of the Dead” is a celebration in Mexico every November 1 and 2 whereby candles are lit on graves and food it put out as an offering to the dead.  Many of the Mexican people regard the orange and black monarch butterfly that migrates there for the winter to be the carrier of the souls of the dead.  This ancient festival has changed somewhat throughout the years but the focus remains the same – celebrating both deceased children and adult. 

During this time, families will take time to honor and remember their dead loved ones.  This holiday is actually complex.  Because of this, you will find the method of observation to vary significantly from one region to the next.  In addition, the degree of urbanization associated with each of those regions also plays an important role.  Keep in mind that while we may not understand the Day of the Dead, it is not morbid but a beautiful celebration of the individual’s life. 

Historians trace the first celebration to many Mesoamerican native traditions such as the Aztec Month of Miccailhuitontli, whereby the Lady of the Dead presided over the festival in dedication of living children and the dead.  When looking at the Aztec calendar, it has been determined that this ceremony was held sometime around the end of the Gregorian month of July and the first part of August.  However, during the post-conquest era, the Spanish priests moved the date so it would better coincide with All Hallows Eve or Dia je Todos Santos, a Christian holiday. 

The goal of moving the date was to turn the celebration from something eerie and misunderstood to a Christian holiday.  Because of this, the Mexican people now pay homage to their deceased loved ones the first of November.  When attending the Day of the Dead, you would see a unique blend of ancient dreams coupled with Christian values.  The festivities involve several things, which typically begins with the family of the deceased welcoming the dead back home.  From there, the family will go to the grave site and while there, they will adorn and decorate the grave with flowers, ribbons, gifts, and massive food.  In addition, you will often see people from the community joining the families as they visit their loved ones.  The belief is that the deceased come back from the dead and stay around them. 

You will also see the families sharing stories of the deceased, reminiscing of the good times.  The food taken to the grave site is nothing less than a feast.  Every type of food imaginable is present from chocolate beverages, cookies, spicy meat dishes, and so on, all served in dishes shaped like skulls or animals.  The one food you will always see at the grave for the Day of the Dead is called pan de muerto, meaning “bread of the dead”, which is a specially made egg batter recipe.  You will even see the dead being offered alcohol and cigarettes. 

Additionally, many families will create an altar in their home, also decorated with an abundance of flowers and food.  However, at home you will also find other valuable things set out to include photographs of the dead loved one, perhaps an article of that person’s clothing, a school diploma, or anything that was considered a cherished possession.  The purpose of this is to entice their spirit and soul to return to join in the celebration of remembrance.  Keep in mind that these home ceremonies are typically found only in the native communities.  There will be a pathway that comes from the outside street to the actual altar, scattered with fresh flower petals as a means of guiding the deceased soul into the house and into the presence of the family members. 

The Day of the Dead always begins in honoring the deceased children on the first day or November 1.  The name for this is Day of the Little Angels or “Dia de los Angelitos”.  Then on the second day or November 2, the deceased adults are celebrated.  Modern families usually observe the Day of the Dead with a special family supper that includes the special bread.  However, added to this you would find families in the southern parts of Mexico hide a plastic skeleton in the bread.  The individual who bites into this toy is believed to have good luck. 

Then, for the people who did not get the plastic skeleton, they would be offered sugar skeletons or perhaps something else with a dead motif.  In the state of Oaxaca, you see a slight variation of this practice.  In this case, the actual bread is baked in the shape of a burial wrap of body.  Then, a face made from bread is placed on one end of the bread.  For days leading up to the celebration and for several days afterward, many bakers in these communities will stop making several types of bread so they can make only the special pan de muerto bread. 

Remember, for most Mexican people, the Day of the Dead is a very important event.  The people involved take this very serious and take responsibility for making sure it is an occasion of respect and honor.  Generally, the more urban the community the less cultural and religious the Day of the Dead is while on the other hand, the Indian and rural communities are very loyal to this event, making the observance a great social value.