Mexico's Days of the Dead: Celebrating life by embracing Death.
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Halloween has ended, but in Mexico, our celebration of the dead is only beginning as we enter a two day homage, known as Dia de los Muertos, to our loved ones who have passed.
Foreigners have more trouble understanding Los Dias de Los Muertos than any of Mexico's other fiestas. At first glance, Day of the Dead decorations, colored paper garlands, little skeletons performing daily tasks and sugar skulls inscribed with names remind visitors of Halloween, but nothing could be further from the truth. Whereas Halloween is more of a pagan celebration, Day of the Dead is a colorful, respectful, joyous celebration of the life and memories we shared with the dead.
Part of the tradition behind Days of the Dead come from beliefs that spirits are allowed return to the Earth for one day of the year to be with their families. It is said that the spirits of babies and children who have died arrive on November 1st, All Saints' Day at midnight, spend an entire day with their families and then leave. Adults come the following day on All Souls' Day.
Though it may sound gloomy or morbid, it's not, Dia de los Muertos is very intimate and family-oriented based on another belief of ours that every person dies three deaths. The first death is when our bodies, mind, and heart cease to function. The second death comes when our bodies are lowered into the ground, returned to Mother earth and our Mother land. Our third, most definitive and painfully cruel death, will only occur to those who have no one left remembering them. In essence, these celebrations will insure a departed loved one's survival in the afterworld, as our memories will protect them the from their third and final death.
In ancient times people were buried close to their family homes and there was no need to have separate grave decorations and home altars, these were together in one place. Now that the dead are buried away from their homes, graves are decorated with the idea that the dead return there first. In some villages flower petals are laid in paths from the cemetery to the home so that the spirits will be able to find their way.
In the homes, ofrendas, decorated altars are created. The altar is prepared in a place of honor in the home and in the form a pyramid of three or more levels. Four candles are placed on the top level to represent the cardinal directions. Copal is a sap from a Mexican tree which the aztecs used as an offering to the Gods. On the Day of the Dead altar, the scent attracts spirits, inviting them home and warding off evil. Three Handcrafted skulls, calaveras, which represent the trinity, are placed on the second level. Colorful tissue paper, papel picado, is cut into intricate designs and strung to flutter over around the altar. This custom comes from the Aztecs who used paper banners in rituals. The colors used represent:
Black for the Prehispanic religions and land of the dead
Purple from the Catholic calendar to signify pain, suffering, grief, mourning
White for purity and hope
Yellow and Orange for the marigold, the sun, light
Red representing for Christians, the blood of Jesus; and for the indigenous, the life blood of humans and animals.
The deceased favorite meals will be prepared and placed on the altar along with various drinks: refreshments, juices, beer and whiskey. It is believed the spirits consume the essence and aroma of the foods that are offered. Once the spirit departs, the living will consume the offereings in honor and thanks for their loved ones spirit returning once again.
Flowers, symbolizing the brevity of life, are massed and fashioned into garlands, wreaths and crosses to decorate the altar and the grave. The marigold is the most traditional flower of the season. In Aztec times it was called the cempasuchil, the flower of 400 lives.
The unique fragrance of the cempasuchil leads the spirits home. A cross of marigold petals is formed on the floor so that as the spirit approaches the alter, he will step on the cross and expel his guilt.
Many stay in the cemetary to visit, eat, drink and pray while they keep a vigil during the entire night. All night, throughout the cemetery there is a grand family reunion of huge extended families, alive and dead, as one by one, through stories, memories and dreams, the dead return. On this night, those who wait realize the importance of living to be well remembered, working to be well respected and loving to be well missed.
As a child, I never understood the purpose of these days, long nights in cold cemeteries seemed both senseless and frightening. As an adult, I have finally learned the truth and beauty of these days. Mexicans want to flatter and woo death, sing to her, dance with her, lift a glass to her, laughs with her. By doing this, death loses her power to intimidate. Once you knows death intimately, she is no longer wrapped in a cloak of mystery or causes one to fear an unknown darkness.
To celebrate death reminds us of the importance of living, not in fear, but with courage. Mexico celebrates the beauty and blessing of life, by paying homage and embracing death.
