Dia De Los Muertos
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I am going to tell you about a famous, yet kinda eerie celebration that takes place in mexico. This is a tradition celebrated by the Mexican Natives, most Mexican Americans (including myself) dont even acknowledge this day, unless they happen to be visiting mexico at the time of this event.
Foreigners have more trouble understanding Dia de Los Muertos than any of Mexicos other celebrations. At first glance, they see Day of the Dead decorations which are colored paper garlands, little skeletons performing daily tasks and sugar skulls inscribed with names, which remind them of Halloween. Other tourists discover that much like Memorial or Remembrance Day in the US, families here visit, clean and decorate graves of loved ones for the November 1 and 2 holidays. Many families honor their ancestors and dead with different traditions, which I will be telling u about.
The infamous “Day of the Dead” or dia de los muertos actually takes place over a period of 2 days. It is the largest and most elaborate celebration in mexico all year long, its even bigger than Christmas. In the past, this period marked the time when the deceased could return to the world of the living and visit their loved ones, but now it is usually a time to celebrate, remember, and pray for their souls.
November 1st is the day the deceased children are remembered and November 2nd is for the adults.
The calavera, or skeleton, is an important symbol during dia de muertos. Skeletons decorate the inside of shops and shop windows and they are dressed as judges, soldiers, housewives, soccer players, and even doctors. Death, and the skeleton represented as Death, is seen in a much different way by the Mexicans than by most other cultures. It is seen in a mocking, cheerful light. A symbol that can be as playful as it is serious, it appears everywhere during dia de muertos as wood, paper mache, sugar, and plastic.
Stores and shops all set up large displays to show off their items. There are a variety of decorations, candy, and bread to choose from to prepare for the Day of the Dead feast and to decorate the tombs and gravestones of loved ones.
In their decorations, the skull or skeleton is often used. They are often made to be grinning or to be doing things like drinking, eating, and even riding horses. The skeleton is turned into a mocking of death itself, and is a symbol of celebration of passing into the next life.
Candy flows through Mexico during el Dia de los Muertos and most of the candy displayed and eaten takes the form of sugar skulls. There are many different ways to make these sugar skulls. Some are large and thin, Some are coated with sesame seeds and nuts and Some are chocolate and decorated with hard candies. But most of those that are used to decorate the tombs are small, hard sugar skulls, painted with frosting and bits of foil.
Pan de Muertos. This sweet bread is a treat for both the dead and the living. You can see many loaves set out on altars or at the cemeteries. They are decorated with skull shaped candies and sweets.
The altar is a table or area decorated to hold the offerings for the spirits. It is considered a great craft, and there is an altar competition