Many cultures have solemn traditions surrounding the remembrance of the dead, as death is typically associated with grief and mourning. However, Mexico has a unique celebration full of color, food, and music. Día de los Muertos (also known as Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican holiday, typically spanning two days—1 and 2 November.
With the holiday recently gaining popularity in the United States, many people are familiar with the images of brightly colored paper, marigolds, skulls, and family photos that are associated with the holiday. However, Día de los Muertos is rich with history and tradition, and a deeper look at the holiday can strengthen your connections to your Mexican heritage.
Festival of Día de los Muertos in Guanjuato, Mexico. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
History of Día de los Muertos
Several historians believe that the origins of Día de los Muertos began when the Spaniards came to Mexico. When the indigenous people were compelled to convert to Catholicism and the Spanish attempted to extinguish native practices, they blended traditions with the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The original Aztec festival was dedicated to the goddess of death, Mictecacihuatl, who watched over the bones of the dead. Today, Día de los Muertos is observed throughout Mexico and the Mexican diaspora.
It is important to note that Día de los Muertos is not “Mexican Halloween,” as it is sometimes called due to the timing of the year. While there may be some similarities on the surface, the two holidays are quite distinct, with Día de los Muertos focusing on family, remembrance, and honoring the dead. The holiday is not intended to be spooky or macabre, but a celebration of life and those who came before us.
Observing Día de los Muertos: Mexican Death Traditions
The holiday typically begins at 12 am on November 1 with Día de los Angelitos. Día de los Angelitos, or Day of the Little Angels, starts off the celebrations by honoring the spirits of all deceased children. At midnight the next day (November 2), the celebrations shift to remembering adult ancestors, with a public celebration in the afternoon to conclude the festivities. Families typically gather at the graves of their loved ones to end their observance of Día de los Muertos. Some cities stay up all night during the holiday beside the graves of their relatives, leaving blankets and pillows for their ancestors to rest.
Decorated tombs in San Andrés de Mixquic. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
What is an Ofrenda? Day of the Dead Altar
During Día de los Muertos, families build private altars dedicated to their departed loved ones. The altar, known as an ofrenda, is covered with ancestors’ favorite foods, beverages, and treats, as well as photographs and heirlooms of the departed. The hope is that the souls of the dead will hear the prayers and dedications directed to them and visit their living family. Ofrendas can be built in public spaces, homes, or even at the tomb of the deceased.
Ofrenda in Milpa Alta, Mexico City. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
The standard ofrenda typically has two or three levels:
- The top level, representing the heavens. This is dedicated to the spirits of loved ones being honored and is typically where photographs are placed. Papel picado (perforated paper) is often placed here to represent air.
- The middle level, representing the earth and the comforts of life. This is where families place offerings of food, drink, and memorabilia to make the spirits feel welcome by surrounding them with the things they loved in life.
- The bottom level, representing the underworld. This symbolizes the journey that the spirits must make to return to the world of the living. This level often includes cempasúchil (also known as flor de muerto or marigolds), candles, and a basin of water or soap, so spirits can cleanse themselves after their journey.
Día de los Muertos Traditions and Celebrations
While traditions vary slightly by location, there are several elements that are universal to a proper Día de los Muertos celebration.
Day of the Dead Flowers: Cempasúchil (Marigolds)
Cempasúchil are placed on the altars and on the burial sites to guide the spirits back with their intense color and pleasant smell.
Día de los Muertos Calaveras (Skulls)
Skulls are an important symbol of Día de los Muertos. Skulls were used during rituals in the Aztec era and today they are used in masks, food, decoration, and even in poetry. Calaveras literarias are mocking, light-hearted poems dedicated to the living or dead and are often accompanied by an illustration of a skull. One illustration has become deeply associated with Día de los Muertos—La Calavera Catrina—typically sporting a large, feathered hat and an ornate dress. La Catrina was created by cartoonist and social activist José Guadalupe Posada, who drew her to protest the Mexican people’s desire to look more European.
Calavera Catrina as seen in Diego Rivera’s Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Papel Picado Día de los Muertos: Day of the Dead Banners
Papel picado, or perforated paper, is prevalent throughout Mexican culture. According to tradition, the art form originated with an Aztec tradition of chiseling spirit figures into wood. It is specifically used during Day of the Dead celebrations by stringing them on the altars and in the streets.
Papel Picado. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
During Día de los Muertos Food
During Día de los Muertos festivities, food is eaten by living people and given to the spirits of departed ancestors on ofrendas. Some of the most popular dishes included are tamales, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), and calaveras. Pan de muerto is a round sweet shaped like a bun, topped with sugar and decorated with bone-shaped pieces of pastry on top. Calaveras, or sugar skulls, have colorful designs to represent the vitality and personality of the dead and often have the names of the deceased written on them. The calaveras are often made of sugar but can also be made of chocolate.
In addition to food, drinks are also important to the tradition of Day of the Dead. Historically, the main alcoholic drink was pulque, an agave wine; today, families commonly drink the favorite beverage of their deceased ancestors. Other drinks associated with the holiday are atole, a warm, non-alcoholic corn flour drink; champurrado, a chocolate-based atole; and Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus water).
Example of food and drink used in an offering to ancestors, including pan de muerto, a calavera, tejocotes fruit, and sugar cane. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Honoring Our Roots: The True Meaning of Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos is a deeply meaningful tradition that celebrates the lives of those who came before us, offering a chance to honor and feel connected to our Mexican ancestors in a joyful, reverent way. Unlike Halloween, it is not about fear or fright, but about remembrance, love, and the beauty of drawing close to the spirits of our deceased family members. This celebration invites us to reflect on our roots and strengthen our ties to the generations that shaped us.
Learn more about your Mexican heritage:
Latin American History Month: Intro to Latin American Genealogy Research
The Bread and Butter of Latin American Research: Church and Civil Registration Records
If you’d like to deepen that connection and discover more about your own Mexican ancestry, Legacy Tree Genealogists can help guide your journey! Contact us to get in touch with our team.
Leave a Reply