Dia de Los Muertos

Dias de los Muertos translates to Days of the Dead.  The singular, Dia, or Day is often used.  But I'm going with the plural because there are truly 2 days, November 1 and 2.  

The Days of the Dead is a blend of 3 main traditions.  One is the 2500 year old Celtic Samhain, celebrated the evening of October 31, the day that separates summer's lightness and the dark of winter, and on which the veil separating the dead and living was especially thin.  On this evening, the Celts would commune with the dead by preparing their favourite foods and circle bonfires while carrying the skulls of their ancestors.

Another is the Christian tradition of commemorating saints. In early times this was done on the Sunday after Pentecost (ask Google about this).  In the year 609, the date was changed to May 13, to coincide / absorb the Roman pagan festival of Lemuria, in which restless and malevolent spirits were appeased. By the year 800, All Saints Day was moved to November 1st, likely to coincide with Samhain.

The most relevant tradition, in many ways here in Mexico, is the indigenous celebration of the Goddess of the Underworld, Mictecacihuatl.  A month long celebration that included flowers and the favourite foods of the dead.

When the Spanish invaded Mexico, they realized they could not completely stop local traditions.  So they blended the Catholic traditions with Indigenous traditions.  Now, Mexicans have a 3 day celebration: All Saints Eve on October 31, which is starting to look like our Canadian Halloween, All Saints Day on November 1, which focuses on the souls of young departed, and All Souls Day on November 2, which celebrates the death of adults.   

Interestingly, one of the most iconic images of the Day of the Dead, the Catrina, was only added to the mix in 1913.  But that is another blog post!

Pictures

1-5) These are all altars (ofrendas) that various organizations and families set up in public places around the city.  Apparently, the dead must be able to see a picture of themselves to know which altar to go to. There was a surprising variety of styles.  Some with humour, some more sombre.  Always including marigolds, items and foods that were important to the dead being honoured

6-7) These are all little figures apparently made of icing sugar, or something like it.  They are for putting on the altars.  If you look very carefully, you'll see little coffins with skeletons in them.  There's a string attached to the skeletons.  If you pull, it, the skeleton sits up and peeks through the little window in the coffin!