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1) Multiple origins of the Day of the Dead
A. Pre-Columbian origins: traditional Indian rites
DEATH CULT IN CENTRAL AMERICA
The origin of Mexico’s Day of the Dead comes from the death cult practiced over 3,000 years ago by the indigenous peoples of Central and Latin America. As the many pre-Columbian civilizations fought many wars, the skulls of the defeated were kept as trophies 💀 During religious ceremonies, human skulls symbolized life and death. They are therefore highly represented in the paintings and engravings of this civilization.
AZEKIC LIFE AFTER DEATH
Among the Aztecs, life and death were considered two sides of the same coin… so they didn’t fear death! This same lightness of approach to death can be found among the Mexicans. The Aztecs didn’t speak of hell or heaven depending on the good or bad deeds of the living. Rather, they considered that one reached a different place after death, depending on the circumstances of one’s death. In the case of natural death, the deceased had to make a long journey of 4 years to Mictlan (the world of the dead) to find Mictecacihuatl (the goddess of death). She is often represented by a skull, and her cult has inspired many Day of the Dead traditions.
RITUALS AND OFFERINGS TO THE DEAD
In Aztec culture, death is the beginning of a new life. Offerings are therefore intended to help the deceased in their new life and meet their needs. These offerings were made during festivities around summertime with dancing and singing 💃 The Aztecs celebrated two feasts of the dead: one for children and one for adults. This two-stage organization can be found in the Mexican celebration:
- November 1: the first day is called “Nuestros Angelitos” (our little angels in Spanish) and symbolizes the return of the spirits of deceased children.
- November 2: the following day sees the arrival of the deceased adults, slower to make this journey between worlds.
B. Christian origins (Spanish missionaries)
CHristian rituals of death
The Day of the Dead is not, however, a simple evolution of the cult of the dead practiced by the Aztec people. This festivity is the result of a fusion of traditions with the contribution of Christian culture by the Hispanic colonists. In the 16th century, settlers from Spain conquered Latin America and made it their mission to convert the natives to the Christian religion ✝️ In the face of local reluctance, the monks drew on local beliefs and existing rituals to bridge the gap with Christian rites. The Mexican Feast of the Dead was thus gradually shifted from July to November 1 and 2 to coincide with the Christian feast of All Saints.
EUROPEAN FOLKLORE FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD
In the Christian tradition, November 1 corresponds to Toussaint, when all the saints of the Church are celebrated. November 2 is the day of commemoration of the deceased. On this day, families visit cemeteries to tend to the graves and lay flowers in memory of the departed. In European folklore of the Middle Ages, the motif of the “danse macabre” can be found in engravings and paintings. These motifs of dancing skeletons brought by Spanish missionaries may have inspired Mexican representations of skeletons and skulls.
TWO CELEBRATIONS TO BE MORE THAN ONE
“El Día de los Muertos” was revived in Mexico in the 1920s, as part of a nationalist drive to revive Mexican culture. In this religious country, traditional folklore is revived with colorful costumes and sugar skulls, the famous “Calaveras”. These sugar skulls are used as offerings on altars for the deceased, as gifts for friends, but also as motifs for numerous decorations and accessories.
2) Unfolding of the Day of the Dead
A. Day of the Dead in practice
TOWN AND HOME DECORATION
The pre-Columbian and Christian origins of the Day of the Dead explain how these special days unfold. Usually, it takes place on November 1 and 2. However, depending on the city and region, the festivities can last up to several weeks! And from the beginning of October, towns and cities start preparing for the festivities with banners and decorations depicting colored skulls. In store windows or in homes, you can find Day of the Dead-themed illustrations, like this superb Mexican Skull Painting!
FAMILY CEMETERY VISITS
On Day of the Dead, families gather together to visit the graves of their loved ones. Indeed, this event is considered to be the time when the spirits of the deceased return to earth to visit their families. It’s common to see families picnicking in the cemetery on colorful tablecloths. In the house, on the street or above the graves, the family erects an altar to place traditional offerings. These offerings include fruit, sugar skulls (with the deceased’s name written on the forehead), scented flowers, tequila and sweets 🍬 Holy water, candles and the bread of the dead inspired by the missionaries’ eucharist can also be found. The altars are decorated with many colors (orange and red flower petals). Each family tries to put up an altar more sumptuous than its neighbor’s, and to please the deceased.
MAGNIFICENT FESTIVALS AND PARADELS
Traditional dances and music are an integral part of the celebrations. For the occasion, women wear skeleton face make-up and colorful dresses. The grande parade de Mexico brings together over a million spectators to admire floats, dancers and puppeteers. The parade is a recent addition to the Festival of the Dead. Since 2016, it has been attracting crowds of visitors eager for this exotic and surreal spectacle. It’s with joy and hospitality that Mexicans celebrate their dead.
B. Indispensable Day of the Dead symbols
the calaveras or sugar skulls
When we think of the Day of the Dead, it’s impossible not to evoke the sugar skulls, called “calaveras de azucar” in Spanish. They’re everywhere in Mexico, and come in edible and inedible versions. First made of clay in the 16th century, they were later made of sugar using a paste made from eggs, powdered sugar and lemon. Today, these miniature skulls are made in both traditional and industrial ways, and can be decorated with glitter. Be careful not to try to eat them 🤢 Sculptures fit for consumption are decorated with multicolored icing or made from chocolate.
MEXICAN AUTUMN FLOWERS
Flowers are often used as a motif to decorate Mexican skulls. The most represented flower is the cempoalxúchitl, or “Mexican sweet“. This flower abounds in October in Mexico and brightens up the festivities with its yellow and orange petals. They are said to have the virtue of being able to guide the deceased, which is why Mexicans trace paths on the ground with the petals to lead the deceased to the altar set up in their honor. In addition to the traditional flower, all kinds of flowers can decorate the altar 💐 Depending on the color of the flower, they each have a symbolism: orange symbolizes Aztec mourning, mauve represents mourning for Christians, white represents heaven.
3) The Feast of the Dead internationally
A. Popular culture: clothing, accessories and tattoos
The effervescence and aesthetic of the Day of the Dead has influenced many artists internationally and has played a big part in promoting Mexican culture. The Mexican skull symbol is worn as a rallying sign (as an accessory or on clothing) by those who rebel against the established order and assert their differences. Provocative, the colorful skull thumbs its nose at death. It has become a popular design for old-school tattoo artists.
B. Mixing cultures: Latin America vs. North America
Under the influence of cultural mixing, the rites of celebration for the dead continue to evolve. Although the Day of the Dead has nothing to do with Halloween in terms of origin and symbolism, the juxtaposition of dates is leading to a fusion of the two. It’s not uncommon now to see pumpkins and children in costume in Mexico 🎃 Similarly, sugar skull costumes and decorations are increasingly popular during Halloween in Europe and the USA.
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