The Day of the Dead is a unique festival that resulted from
the 16th century contact between Mesoamerica and Europe. The holiday
owes its origins to both pre-hispanic Aztec philosophy and religion and
medieval European ritual practice. The rituals and ceremonies, historically,
were mainly focused on the celebration of the dead. These were held under the
supernatural instruction of the goddess Mectecacihuatl. Both children and dead
ancestors were celebrated and remembered during these rituals.
When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century,
they brought along with them the Christian holiday of All Saint’s Day, the
Roman Catholic holy day celebrating the dead in general, as well as the
Christians who were believed to be stuck in purgatory. Spanish priests quickly
noted the correlation between the Aztec and Christian celebrations and moved
the Aztec holiday from summer to fall to combine the holidays.
The ultimate result of this cultural combination is a modern
celebration of ancestors during the first two days of November. The celebration
is a melting pot of Christian components and indigenous Native American
traditions.
The Day of the Dead activities are relatively consistent
across Mexico. On the first day, families hold a picnic, or so to speak, at the
graveside. The day enables different groups of people to exchange stories of
their loved ones and celebrate the role that those ancestors played in peoples’
lives.
The Day of the Dead altars are built during Dia de los
Muertos to honor the lives of those who have passed. Creating these altars is
one of the most important traditions during Day of the Dead. On top of the
altar, offerings are laid out for the dead—known as ofrenda in Spanish. These
are items that the spirits will enjoy will enjoy when they come back to earth
to visit their living families and friends. The ofrenda consists of things the
dead person enjoyed while s/he was alive. The altar is usually arranged on a
table top that is used exclusively for the altar. Altars have at least two tiers,
sometimes more. The table or crates are draped with cloth and often contains an
arch made of marigolds erected over the top of the altar.
The Day of the Dead, ironically, is a celebration of life.
This day provides a hands-on opportunity of learning about Mexico’s cultural
heritage.
A fun way to celebrate this day is to watch the movie Book of Life or attend one of the many
events in the San Fernando Valley/Greater Los Angeles area!
