{"id":9278,"date":"2020-11-03T11:47:10","date_gmt":"2020-11-03T09:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/?p=9278"},"modified":"2021-11-10T05:29:57","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T09:29:57","slug":"day-of-the-dead-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.howlanders.com\/en\/mexico\/day-of-the-dead-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"The Day of the Dead in Mexico, all about the most traditional Mexican holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past 31st of October we told you about the best destinations to celebrate Halloween in Latin America<\/a>, and we mentioned that, traditionally, Latin Americans celebrated the Day of the Dead<\/strong> (el D\u00eda de Muertos<\/em>, in Spanish) instead. Well, today we\u2019re going to tell you all you need to know about this very special celebration in Mexico, from the origins and traditions<\/strong> to where to go<\/strong> if you happen to be in Mexico for this holiday.<\/p>\n

Day of the Dead origin in Mexico<\/h2>\n

The Day of the Dead is a long standing tradition dating from the prehispanic times, and it was meant as a way to face death<\/strong>. Death was a very important part of life in Mesoamerican cultures, defined by the way we behaved when we were alive. Death scares us<\/strong>, but the rituals of the Day of the Dead allows us to get closer and celebrate it<\/strong>, laugh about death and dance with it to hide our fear.<\/p>\n

As Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, this celebration, like many others, became mixed<\/strong> and adopted catholic<\/strong> elements, like the flower cross.<\/p>\n

\"Catholic<\/p>\n

Where to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re lucky enough to be travelling to Mexico during the last weeks of October, apart from looking for the must-visit places in Mexico<\/a> you\u2019re probably also looking for destinations to celebrate the Day of the Dead<\/strong>. Any part of Mexico is good to celebrate this day, but here are some places with very special or striking celebrations.<\/p>\n

Todas somos Catrinas in Playa del Carmen, Canc\u00fan<\/h3>\n

When you think about Mexico, one of the first places that come to mind is Canc\u00fan, with its crystal clear waters and Mayan cities. But in addition to visiting Tulum<\/a> or snorkelling in Sian Ka\u2019an<\/a>, if you\u2019re planning to visit Canc\u00fan around the Day of the Dead you\u2019ll be able to visit the Todas somos Catrinas<\/a> (we\u2019re all catrinas<\/em>, in English) festival, in Playa del Carmen<\/strong>. In this festival we\u2019ll be able to see beautiful murals<\/strong> and attend workshops<\/strong> and lectures about the Day of the Dead.<\/p>\n

Hoct\u00fan Cemetery, Yucat\u00e1n<\/h3>\n

In Yucat\u00e1n<\/strong>, very close to Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1<\/a>, we can find Hoct\u00fan, a small Mayan community<\/strong> known for its quirky way to celebrate death. Locals meet each year to celebrate the Day of the Dead and, like others all around Mexico, place their altars in the Hoct\u00fan cemetery.<\/p>\n

\"Colorful<\/p>\n

But this is no regular cemetery. Thousands of people visit the Hoct\u00fan cemetery to visit the colorful graves<\/strong>, shaped like Mayan houses, milpas, churches, or even landmarks like the Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 castle or the Latin American Tower in Mexico City. Each year, the residents of Hoct\u00fan come to the cemetery to \u201cdress\u201d their late loved ones, which means they decorate and paint their graves<\/strong> with beautiful motives and bright colors to make sure they\u2019re ready for their visit to the world of the living on the 2nd of November.<\/p>\n

Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes<\/h3>\n

Aguascalientes<\/strong> celebrates each year the \u00a8Festival de las Calaveras<\/strong>\u00a8 (the Skull Festival<\/em>, in English), one of the most important festivals of the region. During the last week of October and first week of November, visitors can attend skull parades, visit artisanal expositions, taste local gastronomy and even watch living altars. A very special event you cannot miss if you\u2019re near Aguascalientes on these dates.<\/p>\n

\"Scene<\/p>\n

Day of the Death traditions in Mexico<\/h2>\n

Altars<\/h3>\n

On this day, Mexicans visit their loved ones<\/strong> who\u2019ve passed away in cemeteries and prepare them altars with food, drinks, candles and pictures to remember them, and even add some personal objects<\/strong> belonging to the deceased, in addition to religious images and other decorations. One thing that can never be forgotten is the cempas\u00fachil flower<\/strong>, which marks the path back home for the spirits.<\/p>\n

\"Very<\/p>\n

This is a very special day for Mexicans because it\u2019s the only day of the year that their loved ones\u2019 souls can cross the border between the world of the dead and the living<\/strong>, so families try to offer their deceased things they really enjoyed when they were alive so that they have the best possible day together.<\/p>\n

The entire family participates in the offerings, and the living wait to eat and drink from the altars until the end of the day so that their late loved ones have enough time to enjoy everything on it before.<\/p>\n

Skulls<\/h3>\n

Skulls are a very important symbol<\/strong> of the Day of the Death. Apart from being present in the traditional decorations of this day, they\u2019re part of this day in other ways:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Sugar skulls<\/strong> (calaveritas de az\u00facar<\/em> in Spanish): sweets shaped like skulls, typically made of a sugar paste although we can also find them made of chocolate, amaranth or other sweet pastes. They\u2019re very common in markets and local shops around October and beginning of November.<\/li>\n

    \"White<\/p>\n

  • Literary skulls<\/strong> (calaveras literarias<\/em> in Spanish): comedic epitaphs about living people, that pretend they are dead. Commonly they are about public figures, especially politicians.<\/li>\n
  • Catrina<\/strong> (or catr\u00edn, for males): this creation by Jos\u00e9 Guadalupe Posadas is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Day of the Dead, although it wasn\u2019t created for this day especifically. It\u2019s a skeleton wearing a big hat and a flamboyant dress, and originally was meant to symbolize the upper class.<\/li>\n

    \"Parade<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n

    Day of the Dead makeup and costumes<\/h3>\n

    Since the Day of the Dead is a magical day where the world of the living mixes up with the beyond, a lot of Mexicans decide to do their makeup and even dress up as a catr\u00edn or catrina, to make sure they can mix up with the dead<\/strong> in case they need to. If you want to do your makeup too, here\u2019s a handy tutorial:<\/p>\n