Holidays Around the World: The Day of the Dead
Author: Maibella Rhoiden
We continue our series on Holidays Around The World in this Spooky Spectacular Edition of the Tar Valon Times with a look at The Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead is three-day Mexican festival celebrated from October 31 through November 2, though the official holiday is recognized as November 1. This festival is a time to remember and celebrate family members and friends who have died. The Day of the Dead as it is celebrated in most parts of the world today is an amalgamation of pre-Colombian Aztec traditional beliefs, pagan harvest festivals, and Catholic traditions.
The festival is celebrated in parts over three days. On October 31 the focus is on children. Children create small alters to invite the spirits of dead children to come back to visit with the living. On November 2 the focus is on bringing adults spirits back to visit. Alters are created in homes, schools, and businesses.
decorated alters:
Finally, on November 2, families go to the cemetery to clean and decorate the graves of their relatives. Decorations include alters made by the families (with toys for the child spirits and tequila for the adult spirits), flowers (particularly marigolds), candles, pillows and blankets (for the spirits to rest after their long journey), sugar skulls, and food favored by the deceased. Traditional foods are also placed on the graves, including fruits, nuts, and pan de muerto ("bread of dead").
at the cemetery:
traditional foods:
Families spend time together at the decorated graves to celebrate Day of the Dead. Some share stories about the deceased, some have picnics, and some even sleep beside the graves overnight. Those with a knack for writing create calaveras, short poems mocking the deceased. Some towns host parades or public festivals during which participants and spectators alike wear masks or paint their faces to resemble sugar skulls.
celebrations:
