the celebration
We just celebrated one of the biggest holidays in Mexico. Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos. Every year I am stunned by the beauty of this holiday and the way Mexico celebrates and honors their loved ones. With every passing year I am more and more impressed by the way the town comes together to decorate and celebrate this holiday. Today I will be sharing some of my favorite traditions from this day as well as some photos from this year!
The tradition
Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and many other Latin American countries like Guatemala and Brazil. Day of the Dead is a way to celebrate those who have passed away. On the night of November 1st the spirits of those who have passed are allowed to come back to our worldly side and celebrate with their family members. Family members bring their favorite foods, drinks, and music to spend the night celebrating their loved ones who have passed.
Decorations
Day of the Dead is known for being celebrated with bright colors, sugar skulls, flowers, candles, and altars. This year our town went all out with colored trees, arches, and flags all over the streets. We also had altars commemorating members of the community who passed away this year. The cemetery was repainted with skulls and marigolds. The whole town was covered in yellow and orange cempasúchil or marigold flowers.
The altars dedicated to those who have passed were incredibly beautiful this year. Unfortunately our town experienced several losses of younger members of the community. Their families and other community members came together to make beautiful altars dedicated to them. There are many things that go on a traditional altar, such as copal (a scented tree resin) and candles to purify any negative energy. Another important item is a glass of water for the tired spirit after crossing back over to our side.
Families place real and paper yellow and orange marigold flowers all around the altar. These are meant to be a good omen and guide spirits on their journey. They place salt in the shape of a cross at the base of the altar as another symbol of purification. Additionally, sawdust and painted rice are often placed in a design at the base of the altar.
Finally, family members place pan de muerto, a sugary bread on the altar, as well as any favorite traditional dishes of their loved one. They may also put photos of their loved one and any other important items that represent the spirit who has passed.
The Parade
This year our town celebrated Día de los Muertos on 3 different days, starting on October 31st with the town parade. In the town parade different organizations make floats decorated to honor Mexican culture and the Day of the Dead tradition. The parade passes through town with each organization marching behind their float. The parade is so much fun, with all the town members cheering the parade on. The organizations that march include the local schools, sports teams, the town horses, and any other group who wants to participate!
After the parade, local talents perform musical numbers and dance performances on the stage set up in town. It mostly consists of local performers who are performing a type of traditional dance or musical number.
THe celebration
The next day, November 1st is when all the altars are put up in the plaza. Organization and family members make the altars for community members who have passed away in the past year. The town members pass through the plaza looking at each altar and paying respects to those who have passed to the other side. The music and dance performances continue right there in the plaza next to the altars. Finally, at 12:00 midnight it’s time to line up to walk to the cemetery.
Community members line up in the plaza with candles and torches and the mariachi band leads the way to the cemetery. At the cemetery families sit next to their family members’ graves with their favorite foods and drinks. The mariachi band plays endless hours of songs while everyone sings along. It’s hard to describe how touching this moment is. It feels like an entire town is living and breathing together. Opening up the passage for the dead to come back to our side to celebrate with us. Every year it gives me goosebumps.
The celebration ends with the activities on November 2nd. On the morning of November 2nd families eat pan de muerto and drink hot chocolate in the cemetery. The altars stay up in the plaza along with the decorations for at least a week or two. Many keep their altars up all month. Even though Día de los Muertos is only officially celebrated as a holiday on November 2nd, the celebration tends to last all week and into the month.
“We never left”
This year our town chose to slogan “we never left” as a way to commemorate those who are no longer with us on this side. I think it’s a beautiful slogan to represent the spirit of the holiday. Every year I am blown away by the decorations, the altars, and the celebration of the lives of those who have passed. It truly feels like they are alive and here with us. Yes, they are gone from this physical world, but they live on through us, singing in the cemetery and dancing the night away with us.
