Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead. The festival, which is held every year from October 31 to November 2, is meant to remember and respect those who have passed away.
All Saints' Day, observed on November 1, is a day set aside to honour children posthumously. When we talk about the Day of the Dead, we typically refer to November 2, when deceased adults are remembered. The three days of celebrations are regarded as the "Day of the Dead".
Even though regional customs and rituals differ, the Day of the Dead celebration typically centres on the construction of an altar that contains tributes including food, photos, and other offerings. These altars, which honour loved ones who have already died, are created with the hope of assisting the deceased in the afterlife.
BACKGROUND OF THE EVENT
The Day of the Dead has changed with time, just like many contemporary holidays. The earliest ceremonies resembling those of the current festival date to pre-Hispanic Mexico's Postclassic period (1300–1521). The Aztec kingdom enjoyed prosperity during this time, and many customs originated there.
The Aztecs believed that grief demonstrated a lack of respect for the deceased, like many other Mesoamerican peoples. The Aztecs decided to honour the spirits of their departed loved ones rather than express their sadness, which led to the creation of an early version of the modern holiday.
The Aztecs honoured Mictecacihuatl, the goddess of the underworld, during this month-long festival and welcomed souls from the afterlife. Another name for this mythical figure is "Lady of Death."
August, the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, was the original month in which the festival was held. The contemporary event, however, reflects a significant transformation brought about by the Catholicism that the Spanish invaders introduced in the 16th century.
INFLUENCES OF CATHOLICISM
The Day of the Dead was replaced by the All Saints period, another holiday honouring the dead, after Spanish colonisation in an effort to distance the natives from the "paganism" of the new country. This Christian holiday includes All Hallows' Eve, also known as Halloween, on October 31, All Saints' Day on November 1, and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed on November 2. It was inspired by paganic harvest festivals.
Although Catholicism changed the festival's theological components, some portions of Aztec mythology are still present. For instance, Mictecacihuatl served as the model for the Catrina, a female skeleton that has come to represent the Day of the Dead.
DECORATION
The decorations are intended to celebrate the life of the departed. They feature skull themes and are therefore brightly coloured.
CONFETTI
Paper craft known as papel picado has been around since pre-Hispanic times; early versions were produced from tree bark and were used by the Aztecs to decorate sacred sites and compose codices.
CEMPASUCHIL FLOWERS
Without cempasuchil flowers, no offering would be complete. These beautiful orange blossoms, also referred to as "dead flowers," are meant to cheer up the dead and draw them in with their alluring scent.
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