Day of the Dead Celebrates Lives Lived

The Day of the Dead celebrations held onWhen the Church granted magical curative
November 1st and 2nd acknowledge thepowers to relics, it was extended to the use of
culmination of the life cycle, and that death willmilagros, 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 bringrise 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 honoregg 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 ancientthe living.
Meso-American cultures, which range from MexicoColorful parades are held with people dressed as
to Honduras and El Salvador, anyone can adoptskeletons, a reminder that in death, we actually
this annual observance and tailor this colorfulcontinue life. Skull masks and artwork of skeletons
celebration to remember their own deceaseddoing everyday activities, such as dancing, bicycle
loved ones.riding, and eating and drinking, remind us that the
Historyeverlasting soul continues on, separate from the
Starting with the Halloween connection, going backbody.
about 3,000 years, the ancient Celtic peopleThe celebration continues in the home, welcoming
believed that on October 31st the boundarythe dead with respect and devotion. Some
between the living and the dead dissolved, allowingfamilies will make an elaborate dinner, set out the
spirits of the deceased to cross over into thefood and not eat it until the next day, to let the
living world. To combat the Druid festival Samhainspirits eat first. They may also make the bed
(pronounced Sow-wen) held this time of year, thewith fresh sheets to allow the spirits to rest after
Catholic Church moved All Saints' Day - a.k.a. Alltheir 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 heldhome and welcome their spirits for a visit. Start
rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors duringby setting up a table with photos of the
the month of August. It corresponded with adeceased, and their ashes if you have them. Don't
festival dedicated to a goddess calledforget to include departed pets!
Mictecacihuatl, The Lady of the Dead. WhenDecorate around the photos with flowers and
Catholic Spanish Conquistadors came to the Newcandles. Set out foods and beverages that they
World more than 500 years ago, they tried toused to enjoy. Play the music they loved. Put art
eradicate these native rituals that seemed toobjects 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 ofplace the notes next to their photos. Include
forced conversion. So to make the ritual moreitems from pets' lives, such as toys, leashes,
Christian, the Spaniards moved it to correspondtreats, and tags.
with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, NovemberTraditional ofrendas have items that represent
1 and 2. In Mexico, Dia De Los Muertos as it isthe four elements of earth, air, fire and water. A
known in Spanish, often honors deceased childrenglass of water is included, to give the spirits a
and infants on the first day, and deceased adultsdrink 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 isrepresent 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-divinerepresent 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 Celebratedguide souls to earth, and marigolds are often still
Today, Day of the Dead celebrations are held inblooming in late October. Flowers can be arranged
Mexico, parts of Central and Latin America, in thein an arch, along with sheets of papel picado,
Southwest U.S., and some European countries. Inrepresenting the connection from earth to
Mexico, the celebrations are elaborate, even moreheaven.
so than Christmas observances. Parades andCreate the altar prior to Halloween, and keep it up
profuse decorations in homes and cemeteriesfor 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 ofopportunity to remember and honor those who
loved ones, decorate them with flowers andmeant so much to us while they lived. Inevitably,
candles, and commune with the spirits of thethere 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.