| The Day of the Dead celebrations held on | | | | When the Church granted magical curative |
| November 1st and 2nd acknowledge the | | | | powers to relics, it was extended to the use of |
| culmination of the life cycle, and that death will | | | | milagros, Spanish for miracles, metal charms in the |
| come to us all. While it directly follows Halloween, | | | | shape of body parts that need healing. This gave |
| the holiday is not designed to scare or bring | | | | rise to specially shaped Day of the Dead foods, |
| sadness. | | | | such as sugar skulls and pan de muerto, sweet |
| The Day of the Dead allows the living to honor | | | | egg bread baked in the shape of skulls or bones. |
| those who have died - family, friends, ancestors, | | | | These can be offerings to the dead or eaten by |
| and pets. While its origins are from ancient | | | | the living. |
| Meso-American cultures, which range from Mexico | | | | Colorful parades are held with people dressed as |
| to Honduras and El Salvador, anyone can adopt | | | | skeletons, a reminder that in death, we actually |
| this annual observance and tailor this colorful | | | | continue life. Skull masks and artwork of skeletons |
| celebration to remember their own deceased | | | | doing everyday activities, such as dancing, bicycle |
| loved ones. | | | | riding, and eating and drinking, remind us that the |
| History | | | | everlasting soul continues on, separate from the |
| Starting with the Halloween connection, going back | | | | body. |
| about 3,000 years, the ancient Celtic people | | | | The celebration continues in the home, welcoming |
| believed that on October 31st the boundary | | | | the dead with respect and devotion. Some |
| between the living and the dead dissolved, allowing | | | | families will make an elaborate dinner, set out the |
| spirits of the deceased to cross over into the | | | | food and not eat it until the next day, to let the |
| living world. To combat the Druid festival Samhain | | | | spirits eat first. They may also make the bed |
| (pronounced Sow-wen) held this time of year, the | | | | with fresh sheets to allow the spirits to rest after |
| Catholic Church moved All Saints' Day - a.k.a. All | | | | their long journey to earth. And they construct |
| Hallows' Day - from mid-May to November 1. | | | | ofrendas, individualized altars with offerings to |
| Halloween comes from abbreviating All Hallows' | | | | maintain relations with the dead. |
| Even, the evening before the day. | | | | Making an Ofrenda or Altar |
| Meanwhile, over in the Western Hemisphere, | | | | You don't have to be Mexican to honor your |
| indigenous peoples such as the Aztec, Maya, | | | | loved ones with a Day of the Dead altar in your |
| Olmec, Toltec and other tribes in Mexico held | | | | home and welcome their spirits for a visit. Start |
| rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors during | | | | by setting up a table with photos of the |
| the month of August. It corresponded with a | | | | deceased, and their ashes if you have them. Don't |
| festival dedicated to a goddess called | | | | forget to include departed pets! |
| Mictecacihuatl, The Lady of the Dead. When | | | | Decorate around the photos with flowers and |
| Catholic Spanish Conquistadors came to the New | | | | candles. Set out foods and beverages that they |
| World more than 500 years ago, they tried to | | | | used to enjoy. Play the music they loved. Put art |
| eradicate these native rituals that seemed to | | | | objects they collected or artwork they created |
| mock death and symbolized death and rebirth. | | | | on or near the altar. Write messages to them and |
| The ancient rituals refused to die in the face of | | | | place the notes next to their photos. Include |
| forced conversion. So to make the ritual more | | | | items from pets' lives, such as toys, leashes, |
| Christian, the Spaniards moved it to correspond | | | | treats, and tags. |
| with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, November | | | | Traditional ofrendas have items that represent |
| 1 and 2. In Mexico, Dia De Los Muertos as it is | | | | the four elements of earth, air, fire and water. A |
| known in Spanish, often honors deceased children | | | | glass of water is included, to give the spirits a |
| and infants on the first day, and deceased adults | | | | drink after their long journey. Tissue paper sheets |
| on the second day. | | | | with elaborate cutout designs, called papel picado, |
| The early Meso-American attitude was that life is | | | | represent air, as they move with the gentlest |
| a dream, and death is the awakening to real life. | | | | breeze. Flowers and a bowl of salt often |
| The dead are considered to have semi-divine | | | | represent the earth, and candles provide fire. |
| status, given permission to return once a year. | | | | Marigolds are the flower of choice for Day of the |
| They are to be welcomed, not feared. | | | | Dead decorating. Their pungent scent is said to |
| How Day of the Dead is Celebrated | | | | guide souls to earth, and marigolds are often still |
| Today, Day of the Dead celebrations are held in | | | | blooming in late October. Flowers can be arranged |
| Mexico, parts of Central and Latin America, in the | | | | in an arch, along with sheets of papel picado, |
| Southwest U.S., and some European countries. In | | | | representing the connection from earth to |
| Mexico, the celebrations are elaborate, even more | | | | heaven. |
| so than Christmas observances. Parades and | | | | Create the altar prior to Halloween, and keep it up |
| profuse decorations in homes and cemeteries | | | | for as long as it feels right. Photograph the altar |
| make this time of year a tourist spectacle. | | | | for posterity. Each year presents a new |
| Families visit cemeteries to clean the graves of | | | | opportunity to remember and honor those who |
| loved ones, decorate them with flowers and | | | | meant so much to us while they lived. Inevitably, |
| candles, and commune with the spirits of the | | | | there will be new faces to add as the years go |
| departed. Often, they picnic in the cemetery, | | | | by. |
| bringing the deceased's favorite food and drink. | | | | |