Day of the Dead – Día de los Muertos
The Day of the Dead celebration is a dance festival held in central and southern Mexico 🇲🇽 every November 1 and 2. Although it coincides with the Catholic feast of All Saints’ Day, indigenous peoples have combined it with their own ancestral beliefs to pay tribute to their deceased loved ones :
- November 1: The gates of heaven open at midnight on October 31, allowing the spirits of all deceased children (Angelitos) to reunite with their families for 24 hours.
- November 2: The spirits of adults descend to Earth to enjoy the festivities prepared for them.
Day of the Dead, an iconic celebration in Mexican culture, is an opportunity to celebrate life. What better way to celebrate than to bring together those who remain here and those who watch over us in the afterlife? 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
The origin of sugar skulls
The origin of sugar skulls dates back to prehistory, a time when the skull was a predominant figure in various forms. One such representation was a wooden shelf on which the skulls of prisoners or human sacrifices were displayed. These civilizations believed in an afterlife, and skulls were offered to the god of the underworld to ensure safe passage to the kingdom he ruled, marking the passage from earthly to spiritual life.
In contemporary Mexican tradition, magnificent altars called Ofrendas are prepared in every home. They are adorned with candles, flowers (often wild marigolds called Cempasuchil), fruit baskets, peanuts, tortillas and Day of the Dead breads called Pan de Muerto. The altar is stocked with food, sodas, hot cocoa and water for weary spirits. Toys and candy are laid out for Angelitos, while on November 2, cigarettes and glasses of Mezcal are offered to adult spirits. It’s the little skeleton figurines and sugar skulls bought at open-air markets that add the finishing touch.
Sugar skulls: a true Mexican tradition
The Day of the Dead represents a major expense for many indigenous, rural and self-sufficient families. Most devote more than two months’ income to honoring their deceased relatives. They believe that happy spirits will bring protection, luck and wisdom to their families. Mexico, rich in sugar production but too poor to buy decorations imported from European churches, quickly learned to use sugar art for its religious celebrations.
These skulls are molded, hand-decorated and sold by the thousands at sugar skull fairs. Confectioners work from 4 to 6 months to produce enough goods. Each sugar skull represents a departed soul. Once made, the sugarpaste skulls are placed on the Ofrenda of the house to honor the return of deceased loved ones. We pay tribute to the deceased, bearing in mind that their departure does not mean their total disappearance, as they remain alive in our hearts.
The reason why a holiday centered on death is so colorful instead of dark and gray lies in its willingness to celebrate the lives of those who have left us. It’s not just a day of mourning where stories are told around graves and altars; the Feast of the Dead is a true day of remembrance, recalling their lives and the impact they had on those around us.
Sugar skeletons are sometimes eaten, but their main function is to decorate altars and graves with a sweet treat for visiting spirits. Miniature candy skulls are made for Angelitos and displayed on Ofrendas on November 1, then replaced by real skulls on November 2 for returning adult spirits.
Giving a sugar skull to someone still alive, whether a friend or family member, with their name on it, is also a regular custom around Day of the Dead. Since death is the only certain thing in life, this gesture symbolizes the importance the person has for the one offering the skull, with the intention of staying by their side in the afterlife.
The Day of the Dead: an international dimension
Although the Day of the Dead is an ancient, joyous celebration in Mexico, it’s entirely possible to personalize it and integrate it with our own religious and cultural beliefs. Part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage, Day of the Dead offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the memories of our departed loved ones through art, cooking, music, activities with our children and more. We can tell family stories, reminisce about fun times and share lessons learned, focusing on how they lived rather than how they died.
El Día de los Muertos is also becoming very popular in the United States. Perhaps it’s a reflection of a worldwide desire to celebrate and honor the dead, or simply an expression of a general fascination with mysticism. 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
