Day+of+the+Dead

**Day Of the Dead** **By Abigail Greenberg** In the United States, Halloween is a night for kids to dress in scary costumes and get as much candy as possible. However, in Latin America, Halloween is not about scaring kids and getting a sugar rush, it is about traditions. In Latin America, Halloween is referred to as Day of the Dead or Dí a de los Muertos. The Day of the Dead is the last days in October and the first days in November. During these days, families and communities practice many traditions to honor the dead. These traditions take the form of rituals that involve food, music, dance, stories, and religion. With all the preparation needed each year, the Day of the Dead is commonly referred to as “The Cult of Death” because these traditions have been practiced for hundreds of years (Day of the Dead in Mé xico).

The Day of the Dead commemorates on November 1st and 2nd where many Latin Americans believe they are reconnected with those who have passed away years ago. This holiday is so important to Latin Americans because it represents a transition in their life. It is believed that on the Day of the Dead, the living can communicate with loved ones who have passed through spiritual rituals. This once a year communication is viewed as a joyous time for the living. The Day of the Dead is a day of happiness and colorful celebration because the dead are friendly spirits returning to communicate with their living loved ones. Many indigenous people believe that a soul does not die but rather it moves on to a new resting place. At the soul’s new resting place, the spirit rests until the day they can return to their homes to visit their relatives once again (Day of the Dead in Mé xico).



These spirits return to their homes through the spiritual rituals of their relatives. On November 1st, the souls of young child are returned home by being honored with specially designed altars full of white flowers, candles, and toys. Then, on November 2nd, the souls of adults return home through many different types of rituals. These rituals include offerings such as the aromas of foods, the fragrances of flowers, candles, and prayers. Even though these rituals represent death, it is still a joyous time full of laughter and jokes. One example, in Mé xico, is the common tradition for a person to give one of their friends or family members a sugar and chocolate skull with their name written on the forehead. Latin Americans give these candy skulls to one another so “they can eat their own death” (Day of the Dead in Mé xico). During these days, relatives also visit the gravesites of their loved ones where they leave offerings, pray, sing, and dance. At the gravesite of a young child, families leave the soul an arrangement of toys and for adults, families leave the soul with a bottle of tequila and traditional Latin American dishes (Miller).



The Day of the Dead is a time for families to be together and celebrate their loved ones who have passed through traditions. These traditions are so important to Latin Americans that they begin preparation for these festivals during the third week of October with the picking of cempasú chil flowers. These flowers are commonly known as the “flower of the dead” (Day of the Dead in Mé xico). Cempasú chil flowers are sold in many market places where families buy everything they need to construct their altars. Altars are commonly considered a place of gods but the Day of the Dead altars are very lavish and focused on lost loved ones. They are the spiritual connection for the living to communicate with loved ones who have passed away. Relatives construct their altars on top of tables covered by specially made tablecloths. They then place offerings of fruit, vegetables, and specials dishes for the dead to enjoy the scent of these foods. One special dish that relatives offer to the dead each year is [|Pan de Muerto]. Pan de Muerto is the Day of the Dead bread which is made with strips of dough to simulate bones. The bread is topped off with a small round piece of dough at the top of the bread to symbolize a teardrop (Inside Mexico).The altars are filled with wooden and paper mache skulls, made by loved ones, which represent the dead. Lastly, the altar contains items or pictures that once belonged to the passed soul as a representation of who they were. At the altar relatives may talk with the soul, pray for the soul, or pray for the soul and them to one day be reunited. The Day of the Dead altar creates a spiritual communion between life and death (Day of the Dead in Mé xico).



For Latin Americans, the Day of the Dead is a joyous tradition because they embrace death. Latin Americans believe that life is a dream and that with death they will truly be awakened (Miller). This belief allows many Latin Americans to celebrate their lives by embracing the fact that one day they will move on to their loved ones. During the Day of the Dead, all emotions, feelings, and beliefs come together to bring life to the memories of loved ones who have passed away. The Day of the Dead is concluded every year with a candle-light vigil. At the candle-lighting ceremony relatives play music, sing songs and prayers, and dance for the spirits that they have lost. The songs and prayers of relatives fill the night sky begging for peace for the souls of their lost loved ones and happiness for those still living (Inside Mexico).



The Day of the Dead is a tradition that has been taking place for hundreds of years embracing death. For Latin Americans these rituals are a way for them to lovingly and happily remember their dead relatives and reconnect their lives. The Day of the Dead is a celebration about loved ones who have passed away that has helped shape Latin American culture and history. Latin Americans have changed the way they envision death; rather than being afraid of their death, they embrace it, enabling them to reconnect with their relatives who have passed away.

[|YouTube Video: Dia de Muertos / México]

Bibliography 1) Day of the Dead in Mé xico. <[]> Web. 1 December, 2011. 2) Carlos Miller. Day of the Dead History. The Arizona Republic. <[]> Web. 1 December, 2011 3) Inside Mexico. The Day of the Dead El Dí a de los Muertos. <[]> Web. 1 December, 2011 4) Andrade, Mary J. Day of the Dead A Passion for Life. La Oferta Pub. Co., 2007. Print. 5) Lowery, Linda. Knutson, Barbara. Day of the Dead. Carolrhoda Books, 2003. Print. 6) Hernandez, Aracely. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). 2002. <[]> Web. 1 December, 2011