Dia De Los Muertos
With Halloween coming and going, many throw their costumes in a plastic bin and move onto thoughts of turkey and mashed potatoes; but for many, spooky season remains and takes form in a day of remembrance and reconnection with loved ones who have passed away. Here are five fun facts about Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican celebration in which the living are connected to the dead.
While Halloween is seen as scary and morbid, Dia de los Muertos is a celebration full of family and remembrance. Families tell joyful stories in order to honor the dead, and festivities are adorned with lots of color and smiling skulls.
Dia de los Muertos is a two day celebration.
The day of the dead actually begins at 12 am on November 1st with the Dia de los Angelitos, a time for children who have passed away to visit their living family, and continues with the Día de los Difuntos, which begins at 12 am and ends at 12 pm on November 2nd, and is a time for spirits of adults to visit their families. Dia De Los Muertos occurs on November 2nd, and includes large celebrates and cemetery visits to connect to the dead.
Mexican Marigolds play an important role in connecting the living to the dead.
The vibrant colors of Flor de Muerto, or Mexican Marigolds is believed to lead souls to their ofrendas, or offering tables filled with food, pictures, and belongings that remind family members of their lost loved ones. It is at the ofrenda that families feel connected to their loved ones.
While Mexico is known for celebrating Dia de los Muertos, it is largely celebrated across the world.
Many religious communities celebrate All Souls Day at the same time as Day of the Dead, and many places in the world celebrate Dia de los Muertos in their own ways; however, Mexico’s unique traditions make Dia de los Muertos beloved in that country in particular.
Calaveras, or skulls, are painted with smiles on their faces in order to mock or laugh at death.
While skulls may seem spooky to most, calaveras serve to mock death with their vibrant colors and wide smiles. On Dia de los Muertos, death is defeated by a reconnection of the living with the dead.