What is Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos is Spanish for The Day of the Dead. It is celebrated on November 1 and 2. Though it is highly associated with Mexican culture, Día de Los Muertos is a holiday celebrated by many other countries such as Guatemala, Ecuador and Peru in various forms. The Day of the Dead is a joyful holiday that reunites the living and the dead, so it is not a time of mourning. During this holiday, people celebrate the lives of those who have passed in numerous ways.
How did Día de los Muertos start?
Día de los Muertos started with ancient Aztec ceremonies that respected the dead. After the Spanish conquered the Aztec Empire, the Catholic church moved the ancient Aztec ceremonies and rituals of honoring the dead throughout the entire year to Catholic dates which are known as All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November 1 and November 2. November 2 became known as Día de Muertos.
Día de los Muertos is not the “Mexican Halloween”
Many people think that Día de los Muertos is the Mexican way of celebrating Halloween, but they are very wrong. There are many similarities between the two holidays, like the prominent symbol of skulls or the art of face painting, but they have very different meanings. Halloween is mostly about children dressing up in costumes and going door to door asking for candy. On the other hand, Día de los Muertos is a day to honor and commemorate the lives of the dead and to welcome the return of their spiritual form.
How is Día de los Muertos Celebrated?
Día de los Muertos is celebrated very differently based on family traditions. The most common traditions include building ofrendas (altars) of the loved ones with offerings, cleaning and decorating gravesites and engaging in festivals and parades. Many people place marigolds on ofrendas or gravesites for they represent the connection between life and death. The marigold petals are often scattered on the floor to create a floral path that leads directly to the ofrendas or graves of loved ones. The bright colors of the marigold are believed to be like a night light that illuminates the way for traveling souls.
Locally, many people celebrated this holiday. Libraries, including Gail Borden Public Library District and the Carol Stream Public Library, had community ofrendas where people could put up memories of their loved ones. Area businesses and restaurants also proudly displayed ofrendas and other traditional items. In Chicago, the National Museum of Mexican Art also works with local artists who help to create their Día de los Muertos exhibits annually.