The Days of the Dead

Mexican families host souls of deceased with rejoicing and festivity

Oct 17, 2006

Color photograph of skeletons on Day of the Dead, Arturo Delfin

The Mexican Day or Days of the Dead is a happy occasion: the spirits of the departed beloved are coming for a visit!

The Days of the Dead, “Los Dias de los Muertos”, are usually celebrated on 1 and 2 November. It is the most popular fiesta in Mexico, where it is a national holiday and more important even than Christmas. It is celebrated throughout Central and South America, and in Mexican-American communities in the US. Often in these countries, which are predominantly Roman Catholic, the holiday is the same as All Saints’ and All Souls’.

In Mexico, however, where about 89% of the population is Roman Catholic, the festival has nonetheless retained much of its original (Aztec) festiveness. What Spanish priests, coming to Christianize the area, thought of as a lack of reverence is simply a different way of respecting the dead. And why shouldn’t you rejoice, when you believe that the souls of your beloved departed are coming home for a visit?

To welcome them back, families set up altars in their homes. To guide the souls, there are bright orange marigolds (zempasuchils or cempasuchils) everywhere. The altars are colorfully decorated with perforated paper (“papel picado”), photographs of the deceased, candles, more flowers, and paper skeletons. There are offerings or “ofrendas” of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks, and toys for the children. Other edible offerings are sugar skulls and coffins, and the delicious “Pan de Muerto” or Bread of the Dead.

In the cemeteries, gravesites are groomed and decorated with marigold petals, colorful wreaths and streamers. Local musicians go from grave to grave and people sing “calaveras,” songs that are often self-composed and range from fun to morose. A priest may be present to pray with the families.

The eve of 31 October the souls of departed children (“los angelitos”) arrive.
They are hosted at home on 1 November, the “Dia de Muertos Chiquitos”. That evening, the “Night of Mourning” (“Noche de Duelo”), a candlelight procession gently leads them back to the cemetery. Sometime during this day, the souls of the adults arrive.
The adult souls are celebrated on 2 November at their gravesites. They leave that evening after a family meal.

There may be additional days for special souls:

Those who have no more living family.
Victims of accidents or murder.
The unforgiven: dead murderers and criminals are offered bread and water outside.
29 October is for “Los Ninos Limbos”: the children who died unbaptized.

The Days of the Dead are often called “the Mexican Halloween”, but inappropriately so. It is not meant to be macabre or scary. The playful dance of the animated skeletons (“calacas”) jokingly mimics the living. The sugar skulls give children at taste of something positive. At the end of the festival, people don fearful masks to scare away souls that are reluctant to leave… for everything has its time.

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The copyright of the article The Days of the Dead in Holiday Entertaining is owned by Katrien Vander Straeten. Permission to republish The Days of the Dead must be granted by the author in writing.