During the that take place in late October and early November in Mexico, the living remember and honor their dearly departed, but with celebration B次元官网网址� not sorrow.
Marigolds decorate the streets as music blares from speakers. Adults and children alike dress as skeletons and take photos, capturing the annual joy-filled festivities. It is believed that during the Day of the Dead B次元官网网址� or Dia de Muertos B次元官网网址� they are able to commune with their deceased loved ones.
No one knows when the first observance took place, but it is rooted in agriculture-related beliefs from MexicoB次元官网网址檚 pre-Hispanic era, said Andr茅s Medina, a researcher at the Anthropological Research Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Catholic traditions were incorporated into the celebration after the Spanish conquest in 1521.
B次元官网网址淚n that mythology, the corn is buried when itB次元官网网址檚 planted and leads an underground life for a period to later reappear as a plant,B次元官网网址� Medina said. The grain of corn is seen as a seed, comparable to a bone, which is seen as the origin of life.
Today, skeletons are central to Day of the Dead celebrations, symbolizing a return of the bones to the living world. Like seeds planted under soil, the dead disappear temporarily only to return each year like the annual harvest.
Altars are core to the observance as well. Families place photographs of their ancestors on their home altars, which include decorations cut out of paper and candles. They also are adorned with offerings of items once beloved by those now gone. It could include cigars, a bottle of mezcal or a plate of mole, tortillas and chocolates.
Traditional altars can be adorned in a pattern representative of a Mesoamerican view that the world had levels, Medina said. But not everyone follows B次元官网网址� or knows B次元官网网址� this method.
B次元官网网址淭o the extent that Indigenous languages have been lost, the meaning (of the altar) has been lost as well, so people do it intuitively,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲here the Indigenous languages have been maintained, the tradition is still alive.B次元官网网址�
The way Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead continues to evolve.
Typically, it is an intimate family tradition observed with home altars and visits to local cemeteries to decorate graves with flowers and sugar skulls. They bring their deceased loved onesB次元官网网址� favorite food and hire musicians to perform their favorite songs.
B次元官网网址淣owadays thereB次元官网网址檚 an influence of American Halloween in the celebration,B次元官网网址� Medina said. B次元官网网址淭hese elements carry a new meaning in the context of the original meaning of the festival, which is to celebrate the dead. To celebrate life.B次元官网网址�
In 2016, the government started a popular annual parade in Mexico City that concludes in a main square featuring altars built by artisans from across the country. The roughly three-hour-long affair features one of the holidayB次元官网网址檚 most iconic characters, Catrinas. The female skeleton is dressed in elegant clothes inspired by the engravings of Jos茅 Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican artist who drew satirical cartoons at the beginning of the 20th century.
On Friday afternoon in the capital city, Paola Valencia, 30, walked through the main square looking at some of the altars and explained her appreciation for the holiday: B次元官网网址淚 love this tradition because it reminds me that they (the dead) are still among us.B次元官网网址�
Originally from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, she said the residents of her hometown, Santa Cruz Xoxocotl谩n, take a lot of time to build large altars each year. They are a source of pride for the whole community.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes I feel like crying. Our altars show who we are. We are very traditional and we love to feel that they (the dead) will be with us at least once a year,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址擬ar铆a Teresa Hern谩ndez, The Associated Press
