By The Rev. Canon Susana Santibanez
Skulls and skeletons adorned with colorful flowers or made of sugar with extravagant designs: these are the representations of the Day of the Dead, a tradition in Mexico and Latin America.
Unlike Halloween, the Day of the Dead is not to feel fear or sadness, but rather a time to remember our loved ones who have passed away.
“The day of the dead is something very special. It is a day in which we welcome the memory and souls of those who in some ways are still among us as part of our family, even though they are physically no longer with us. (Says Cesario Moreno, chief curator of the National Museum of Mexican Art.) “And it is a sacred day in which many people pray, gather together, and welcome them. On Halloween, we do not want those ghosts to surround us, because we fear them. It is a day to scare, not a sacred day, and “I think those are the big differences between both celebrations.”
In Latin America, traditions of the Day of the Dead are passed from generation to generation, but in the United States, this celebration is relatively new. In California, some activists began organizing processions and altar displays for the Day of the Dead in the 1960s and 1970s as a way to honor Mexican American heritage. More recently, Day of the Dead products have started appearing in stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Crate & Barrel. Now they are in many more stores.
On the Altar
The Altar is one of the most unique ways to celebrate the Day of the Dead. An altar is made in honor of the deceased and can be installed on the grave in the cemetery, or in your house. Food, drinks and the things that the deceased appreciated most are prepared. “The altar is a good example of the fusion between religion and culture,” said Eric Garcia, coordinator of Ambulant Art at the Museum of Mexican Art. “These altars pay tribute to both indigenous beliefs and Catholicism for life after death and place it in a logical way.”
The structure of an altar can be installed on tables, shelves, and drawers. The order of the three levels refers to indigenous beliefs.
Main level symbolizes Paradise (Where God and the saints live)
Intermediate represents the land (Where people live)
The lower level symbolizes Mictlan (The Aztec underworld of the dead).
Offerings
Offerings or gifts are placed on different levels of the altar and are usually things to honor and welcome back the spirit of the loved one who passed away.
Flowers
Cempasuchil flowers: Orange in color and with a penetrating smell, they guide souls from paradise to earth; Petals are scattered on the floor to direct the souls toward the altar.
Incense
It is made of copal, which is pine resin and is used to communicate with the spiritual world.
Bread of the Dead
Bread of the dead is a sweet gift for the spirit. The design on the top simulates skulls and skeletons.
Food
Favorite dishes of the deceased for them to taste, as an element of earth.
Water
Water and other beverages; quench the thirst of the spirits that are believed to travel to earth for a day.
Candles
They represent fire to attract spirits to the altar.
Papel Picado
It is tissue paper with complex designs that represent the wind and fragility of life and is used as decoration for festive occasions throughout the year. Includes images of skulls for the Day of the Dead.
Photos and other objects
Photos of the deceased and items that belonged to them are included to remember our loved ones.
Skulls
In the form of puppets, toys, candy or figurines that represent daily life (work, marriage, singers.) skull art is a reminder of the transience of life and the certainty of death.
La Catrina.
It is a skeleton wearing a wide-brimmed hat and commonly dressed in women’s clothing from Mexican high society from the late 19th century and early 20th century. The style satirizes those who favored European culture over Mexican food and tradition. It was popularized in images by the great Mexican illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada.
The basics
When is it celebrated?
The celebration is from October 31st. to November 2nd. It is believed that the souls of children visit the earth between October 31st. and November 1st. and that adults do so between November 1st. and 2nd. The Catholic celebration for All Saints’ Day; (November 1st.) and All Souls’ Day; (November 2nd.) occur during this time.
How is it celebrated?
Customs vary but may include traditional rituals, such as going to church, praying a rosary to the dead, and other popular traditions, such as cleaning and decorating their grave in the cemetery, or setting up altars at home to honor them.