Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating Death and Journey of Life

Monday, October 31, 2022

All of Mexico reveres in one of its most celebrated festivals on All Saint’s Day (November 1) and All Soul’s Day (November 2) : Dia de los Muertos (sometimes called Dia de los Fieles Difuntos) – Day of the Dead. As per the customs, November 1st is dedicated to deceased children and November 2nd to deceased adults. Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead with fervor, but this is especially true in the smaller provincial towns and cities. Mexico observes November 2 as a public holiday.

La Ofrenda : Of remembrance and celebration of life

The Day of the Dead is not just any melancholy celebration; rather, it honors remembering past lives and expresses joy at the continuance of life. This recognition of the continuation of life has origins in some of the oldest civilizations in Mexico, such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, and Purépecha. Day of the Dead was also a holiday for the Aztecs, albeit it was observed in August according to the modern calendar.

From marigolds adorning the streets to music boomboxing from the speakers, adults and children alike dress up as skeletons and take photos to commemorate the yearly celebrations. It is believed that they can communicate with their departed loved ones on the Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de Muertos. The most symbolic flower is considered to be the marigold, whose sunny yellow petals are thought to stand in for the sun and serve as a waypoint for the departed’s spirits to return to their places of origin.

Typically, altars have several levels: two levels stand for the earth and the sky; three levels can stand for heaven, earth, and purgatory; and seven levels might stand for the seven steps to the afterlife or the seven deadly sins.

Every ofrenda has objects that are designed to represent the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. Usually, earth is substituted with ashes or dirt. After a lengthy voyage, the spirits can satisfy their thirst with a glass of water, and tissue paper that has been intricately carved to mimic air is often employed. Candles assist the dead find their way home by symbolising fire.

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