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Historical tradition in Mexico: Spirits and feelings on the Day of the Dead

byadmin
October 29, 2024

Mexico is preparing for a festival celebrated all over the country, the Day of the Dead, which begins on October 31 and ends on November 2.

For this festival, the main streets, historic avenues and all cemeteries are decorated with eye-catching colors and decorations.

So, what is this Day of the Dead, which is “Dia de Muertos” in Spanish and “Day of the Dead” in English?

Day of the Dead is a festival celebrated by the Spanish and Latin Americans, whose purpose is to commemorate the dead. The festival takes place every year between October 30-31 and November 1-2, including preparations.
Day of the Dead emerged thousands of years ago with the traditions of the Aztec, Toltec and other Nahua communities, who considered mourning when someone died to be disrespectful.

For these pre-Hispanic cultures, death was a natural stage in the flow of life.
In 2008, UNESCO added the festival to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

The most important part of the celebration is an altar, or ofrenda, built in private homes and cemeteries. These are not altars for worship; rather, it is to “bring souls back to life.”
Therefore, people place objects on these altars to quench the thirst of their loved ones, such as water, food, family photos, and a candle for each deceased relative. If one of the spirits is a child, you can find small toys on the altar.
Marigold is mainly used to decorate the altars. A fragrant, sweet and enchanting atmosphere is created with the aroma of marigold and copal incense left on the altars. It is believed that when two scents come together, they show the spirits the way out of the underworld.
Although it is an intangible tradition, the Day of the Dead, which originates from pre-Hispanic cultures, is also a celebration for all the senses.
The Day of the Dead is a time when people take to the streets and squares throughout the day. is a highly social event where people shed their bones.

Dressing up as skeletons is also a big part of the festival. People of all ages have their faces expertly painted to resemble skulls.

Day of the Dead is one of Mexico’s biggest visual spectacles.
At the same time, its main purpose is to commemorate the dead so that their spirits are not lost forever.
byadmin
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