Hello, lovely readers!
If you watched the movie from Pixar Coco that
came out last year (2017), you are probably familiar with the Mexican tradition of Day of
the Dead. If you watched The Book of Life, that came out in 2014, then again,
you're also probably familiar with the tradition. Or maybe "A Night to
Remember" episode of season one in Elena of Avalor? Or maybe you have been
to Disneyland Resort's Frontierland for their annual "Halloween Time"
festivities, where they celebrate the tradition of Día de los Muertos... These are only a few examples of where we
have seen said tradition being showcased recently. It is no wonder, the UNSECO
(United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization) inscribed the tradition in the Representative
List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the year 2008.
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Cempasúchil is the flower associated with this holiday. |
But what is the wonder
of this ancient tradition? Well, first, let's take a look at its history.
Day of the Dead
celebrations of honoring ancestors in Mexico date back to pre-Columbian times, perhaps
a good 2,500 to 3000 years ago! After the conquest of Spain in Mexico, where
the Catholic Church became relevant, the tradition migrated from being held in
the summer to being celebrated around Oct. 31- Nov. 1st to the 2nd, to
synchronize it with the Church's celebration of All Saints Day. Before the
Church accepted this indigenous celebration, however, it was banned, especially
in the northern states of the country, as they related it with the pagan
holiday Samhain, also a celebration and honoring of ancestors that had passed
into the spirit realm. But, as an ironic side note, All Saints Day, also All
Hallows Day, which honors all saints in the history of the Church on November
1st, is said to have been adapted from the Celtic/Pagan tradition of Samhain in
the British Isles. (Have you ever wondered where the name Halloween comes
from?... October 31st is All Hallows Eve... Something to ponder).
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Local town decorations. |
By the late 20th
century, most regions of Mexico practiced celebrations to honor dead children
and infants on November 1 , referred to as Día de los Inocentes, "Day
of the Innocents", and to honor deceased adults on November 2. The
tradition is long living today!
How is it celebrated?
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Ofrenda (altar) to famous Mexican comedian, "Cantinflas". |
A lot of people head to the cemeteries to
decorate the graves of their departed, placing photos, their favorite foods and
beverages and memorabilia to encourage the visit of their souls and hear their
dedicated prayers and thoughts about them or to them.
There are also people that build an ofrenda, an altar, in their homes. These
altars can include anything from the departed's photo, their favorite foods and
beverages, to religious artifacts such as crosses or Virgin Mary figurines,
etc. A common item of decoration not only on the altars but on the streets of
Mexican towns during this time is papel
picado, decorative thin pieces of colorful paper cut into beautiful and
elaborate designs that include floral and skeleton themes. Another common item
is the cempasúchil, marigold flower, a
cute and round orange/yellow colored flower. Another popular item is the alfeñiques, a confection made from sugar
paste, molded into skulls of all sizes, from large to tiny, with different colorful
decorations all over it to individual personality of the dead.
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Ofrenda to Pedro Infante, famous singer of the Mexican Golden Cinema age. |
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Ofrenda to famous revolutionary, Pancho Villa.
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Ofrenda to Frida Kahlo |
Another very popular item during this time is La Calavera Catrina, which can be translated
as The Elegant Skull. Originally etched by the famous political illustrator, José
Guadalupe Posada, to portray natives that were aspiring to adopt European
aristocratic statuses and traditions during pre-revolutionary times. Today, La Catrina, is a famously adopted icon
for the Day of the Dead. It can be portrayed as female in La Catrina, or also male, as El Catrín. The female version is
undeniably much more famous, however. We see her in paintings, illustrations,
figurines of all sizes, as well as in people painting their faces white with
black around the eyes to depict the hollowness of a skull, but with the
peculiar Catrina characteristic of
designs in color in the face as well as in clothing choices.
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Local woman characterized as a Catrina. |
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Little girl dresses as a Catrina. |
What about food?
Food is an important aspect of this tradition.
As I explained above, food is offered to the departed in the form of their
favorite items! How delightful is that? But the living also indulge in food and
drinks. A very popular item you see everywhere during this time is Pan de Muerto, a type of bread shaped
like a bun, topped with sugar, it is soft and sweet when eaten. Drinks are also
important. People often drink the favorite drink of their loved departed. On
the streets and during the celebration, other common foods are also enjoyed,
such as tamales, mole and pulque, an
alcoholic drink made from fermented maguey (agave plant).
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Pan de Muerto
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By now, you probably have observed a common
theme in this celebration, and that is of color! Color everywhere, colorful
everything. The beauty of the Day of the Dead doesn't only come from honoring
and remembering those loved family members that have parted, but also in
celebrating life! In viewing death as an imminent part of life, because without
it, there couldn't be life, while also enjoying life as it is, with it's simple
pleasures, its black and white and also its colorfulness!
Can I celebrate this holiday without being
Mexican?
Um, hello! Of course! Yes! Please do!
In fact, many people around the world today are
starting to celebrate. Really, any day is a perfect day to honor and remember
our loved ones that are finally resting in peace. But, if you happen to feel a
desire to join a beautiful holiday that is being celebrated more and more each
year, than I encourage you that next year, you designate a little (or huge!)
corner of your home, take out a framed (or not framed!) picture of one (or
several) of your loved ones that have gone, add items you know they loved or
enjoyed, maybe light a stick of incense, place a cross if you are of the
Christian faith, or a Buddha if you're a Buddhist, or perhaps a David's Star if
you're Jewish, a Pentacle if you're a Wiccan, etc. You get my point. The beauty
in this tradition is that you're celebrating, honoring and remembering your
loved ones, so you're free to decorate your altar as you wish and feel will be
more honorable to your loved one. And then take the day to do so! Or even just
a moment, when you sit or stand in stillness and remember that person you
greatly miss and send them vibrations of love to whatever realm their energy
and/or spirit has transcend into.
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Ofrenda to writer Moby Dick
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Catrina |
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Ceiling decoration.
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Local streets in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. |
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Tlaquepaque, Jalisco |
This is one of the many charms of Mexico I
wanted to share with readers. This pictures were taken in the folkloric town of
Tlaquepaque in the state of Jalisco. A beautiful town that deserves, and will
get, a post on its own. I hope you enjoyed them and also enjoyed learning a
little bit of the history and tradition of the wonderful Mexican celebration of
the
Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead.
*All images (except Pan de Muerto) were produced and originated for
this blog exclusively and protected by copyright.
*Pan de Muerto image courtesy of
www.wideopeneats.com.
Beautiful photos and I also love the philosophy behind Day of the Dead. I remember before my piano teacher died of cancer, she requested that at her funeral everyone wear bright colors because she did not want it to be grim and dour. She recognized that death is just another phase of existence and should be treated as such.
ReplyDeleteHello, Kate!
DeleteThank you for the kind comment. That experience with your piano teacher is wise and beautiful. Death is natural and a part of life. Thank you for sharing!
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ReplyDelete