Dia de los Muertos
A beautiful celebration of life by reconnecting with loved ones who have passed. Dia de los Muertos is honored in several regions... but where did it start, and what are the traditions? Put on some music and bring your family's favorite food; it's time to celebrate!
Courtesy of Daniel de Jorge. Shared via Glamour. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday that honors family and friends who have passed away with festivals, food, and fun—all the best things. Unity. Harmony. Celebration. This special time of the year is typically celebrated in Mexico but is observed around the world, particularly in Latin American areas. Mexican culture has a heartwarming outlook on death. It's believed that when people pass, although they are no longer present in the living realm, they await in the land of the dead to see us again... their spirits become free to roam and reconnect with friends and family on one day a year, Dia de los Muertos. November 1st marks Dia de los Angelitos, a day specifically dedicated to honoring deceased children, and November 2nd, Dia de los Difuntos, is dedicated to adults. Sometimes October 31st - November 6th are included, and the lore dates back many, many, many years.
As with all holidays, Dia de los Muertos is no stranger to history. Around 3000 years ago, the Aztec belief that death is an opportunity to honor loved ones rather than mourn was brought to Mexico. It's said that originally food and water were left out to help the spirits of the dead on their journey back to the land of the living. All Souls Day may also have impacted some of the modern traditions. The love between loved ones, living and dead, is ever-growing.
Dia de los Muertos not only brings the love of passed ones but also a range of traditions that really celebrate life. They can differ slightly by region or family; families pay their respects as they wish... but there are some traditions that are commonly stuck to. Of course. An ofrenda, for example, is one of the most prominent conventions; you likely will have seen an image of one even if you're not totally familiar with Day of the Dead. An ofrenda is an altar handmade by a family devoted to a specific loved one, usually with a photo of them as the centerpiece. The image is surrounded by offerings of their favorite things: colors, candles, food and drink, and any personal items that represent what was important to them in life. Made from the heart. Some families place all of their deceased loved ones' ofrendas together at home, but an altar can be made anywhere.
Miguel and Abuelita with family members' ofrendas, in the movie Coco. Image by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Another delightful tradition involves symbolic items being placed around the home and altar, such as cempasúchilflowers. Beautiful. Also known as marigolds, these flowers are important around Dia de los Muertos to create paths from burial areas to altars and homes, to help lead the spirits back to their loved ones. You can't be late to your own party! This is because the bright orange/yellow color is said to celebrate life, and the musky scent is said to attract spirits of the dead. They are truly mesmerizing flowers. And what's a party without a little dress-up? Streets are lined with skeleton face paints and costumes, all day and night long. Skeleton makeup is a subtle nod to the deceased. It's like saying, "I see you; you're welcome here." In fact, skeletons and skulls—calaveras—are pretty major for the day of the dead, of course. But not in a spooky, creepy way... in a joyful, colorful way. Calaveras are representations of skulls in the form of sugar skulls, banners, decorations, and outfits. They represent the belief that death is a part of life. Gorgeous decorations are shared online every year, each time more stunning.
That being said, how does the rest of the world learn about other cultures nowadays? Online, duh. Whether we like it or not, everything is becoming digital in the modern world. Kinda too fast. I know it's hard to believe amongst all the scary AI developments, negative media, and FOMO, but social media and technology are actually great resources for education. We have the ability to learn about other cultures and countries at the click of an Instagram story. The digital age is ferocious and feisty, and without it, it would be much harder to share the magic of Day of the Dead. Whilst not every country celebrates, it's great to see others' festivities, decorations, and general happiness at this time of year. As someone who, please don't judge me, doesn't really enjoy Halloween (horror movies and me just do not click), I always look forward to Day of the Dead the next day, which is a much more joyous occasion. But it's not just social media that can educate us; the same applies to movies. There are a plethora of movies that depict the customs of Dia de los Muertos, particularly kids' movies. Coco, for one, is an exceptional example as it highlights the history and importance behind the traditions whilst not dismissing the fun element. A learning experience with a sprinkle of song and dance? Sign me up. Book of Life also has references to the special holiday.
You may have heard Un Poco Loco trending on TikTok a few years back when Coco was first released. Maybe you already knew it was from Coco and what Coco is about. If not, today is your lucky day! If you haven’t seen Coco, it is a great movie that incorporates real history with a great soundtrack (what Disney does best), unexpected plot twists, and humor. It is a clever production that shows the importance of family and following your heart. You can learn a lot about the traditions, culture, and general outlook from movies. Doom scrolling and watching Disney Plus all day is not all that bad. No spoilers here - watch the movie!
What a beautiful tradition. Negativity can try to take over the world, but with special days and togetherness like this, we are reminded of everything that is good in life. We are one. To those who celebrate, I hope you had an amazing time with family over the past few days and continue to do so for years and years to come.
