Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a two-day celebration bringing together the living and the deceased. Families construct ofrendas (offerings) to pay homage to their departed relatives. These altars are adorned with vibrant yellow marigold flowers, photographs of the deceased, and the favorite foods and drinks of the individuals being remembered. The offerings are thought to beckon visits from the realm of the dead, as the departed souls perceive the prayers, aroma of the foods, and participate in the festivities.
Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s.
Day of the Dead Altar
There are many things that come to mind when considering the Day of the Dead – the colours, the costumes, the food! This is a day tied to numerous festivities whose vibrant and vivid elements are meant to be evocative enough to tempt the dead back to the land of the living. Anyone can participate in this beautiful tradition laden with history and symbolism.
What goes on an ofrenda?
Ofrendas can be customized to your liking, but many of them have some key elements.
- Photos of your friends and family
- Candles and incense
- Water
- Cempasúchil, or marigolds
- Sweets
- Your loved ones’ favorite foods
- Decorations, such as skulls and tissue paper flowers
Now
Although the tradition has long been part of Mexican culture, the holiday has of late become an important tourist draw because this festivities have appeared in Oscar-winning movies. Trqvelers visiting towns and cities across the country to witness the colorful displays of ofrendas, altars to invite the spirits of the dead back into the world of the living. The most important cities to visit are Michoacán, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Yucatán and Veracruz.
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