What is ‘Day of the Dead’ and How Do I Celebrate?
Day of the Dead is a part of Mexican heritage, lasting from November 1st-2nd. It celebrates welcoming back the souls of deceased family members to be with each other again. On this day typically people dress up in festive clothes like a skull or paint on Catrina makeup (not insisted). People usually listen to music and have fun with their loved ones. They do all of this while eating traditional or favorite foods of their deceased family members. People also set up things for their loved ones in remembrance like an altar called an ofrenda. They will also bring gifts to their grave site for welcoming back gifts. It’s not only for the gift giving of passed ones, people also love to give gifts to their friends and family that are still with them. The day is also about celebrating life and being alive, it’s not just a day to mourn for some.
There is a lot of history behind this day. These roots can go back 3,000+ years ago. This day came from honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. These people had a deep view on the dead and saw it as a gift. Day of the Dead is the combination of Aztec celebrating the dead and a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico called ‘All Souls’ Day’ around the 1500’s. The Spanish also brought Catholicism and the Catholic Church. Aztec, Huastecos, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, Mixes, Chinantecos, Purépecha, Mexica, Otomi, and Mayans were forced by the Catholic Church to adopt Catholicism and give up their multitheistic religious beliefs. They were forced by violence, child kidnapping, and conversion schools. The Spanish conquistadors murdered anybody who restricted the conversions. As 100’s of years passed, now, many people in Mexico still use Catholicism to identify themselves.
