El Día de Los Muertos
31 Oct 2009 2 Comments
in Mexico Tags: All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, Day of the Dead, El Día de Los Muertos, Halloween, La llorona, Mexico, Mixquic
** This is a post from last year as I looked forward to this very special time of year.
This season is probably my favorite season. Autumn, fall- whatever you wish to call it, it’s spectacular. It’s the end of an era, a cycle coming to a close; a season full of cantations and recital, colors and changing of weather. During this time I usually celebrate All Hallows Eve, more commonly known as Halloween, the carving of pumpkins (jack-o-lanterns), lots of candy, trick-or-treating, accompanied with a healthy dose of horror flicks. But for the past two years I have celebrated Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
It is a custom that has its roots in Pre-Columbian Mexico. Today, as celebrated in Mexico, it is a form of syncretism between the indigenous traditions and Halloween (so I can still relish in a lone horror flick). Right now in DF there are festivals going on from October 28-November 2. Of course the official days are Nov. 1-2 in correspondence with the Catholic “All Saints Day,” (due to religious imperialism). The festive time feeds on our curiosity of the afterlife; our respect for the deceased; and is filled with life and humor. Somehow, the tradition of Halloween has been transformed to focus on death, losing much of the intended motif of “life in the Harvest.” Here the celebration is still life.
They come on the winds from the north: the spirits of the dead. This is the season that the cold starts to creep in and long coats adorn all those that leave their houses in the city for the daily exodus to work. And there’s nothing better to fight off the cold than a warm ponche (warm fruit
punch) or atole (usually accompanied with a tamal). During this time calaveritas (sugar-candy skulls) can be found in abundance. Dressing-up in costumes is not a focal point (though it is done, instead of asking for candy children ask for a calaverita- a small gift of money), honoring the dead takes central stage. This is 
done in part by visiting cemeteries, cleaning tombstones, and creating altars for offerings to the deceased in one’s house as well as at cemeteries.
Preparation for the festivals usually commences in mid-October. Pan de Muerto (seasonal sweet bread) can be found at all the bread stores. Mandarins, Guavas, Tejocotes and camotes (sweet potatoes) can be found in abundance as well.
Las ofrendas (the offerings) consist of the deceased person’s favorite dishes. These often entail tamales , chicken with mole (pronounced mo-lay), pork, bread (pan de muerto), fruits, chocolates, coffee, atole, and beer. 
This is all of course for the dead to consume at their discretion. The offerings are intricately composed of the four elements of the cosmos: Water (as represented by the various liquids), Earth, (the bread), Wind (el papel picado- paper art) and Fire (the flames from the incense). The spirits of the children come first on the last day of October, followed by the spirits of the adults on the first of November. Before the term “evaporate” was coined, the apparitions were explained by the reduction in volume of the liquids after they had been left at the altars for a few days.
The profusion of colors are breath-taking: yellows, oranges, browns, blacks, reds) The flower orange marigold (cempasúchitl) blankets the entire country. 
As does the image La Catrina, created by José Guadalupe Posada that satirizes the upper-class Mexican female (this is part of the humor).
The most well-known place in Mexico for carrying on these traditions is Mixquic, Estado de México. As well, the states of Morelos and Oaxaca are well-known for their varieties of festivities. More information about these places at this time of year may be accessed through the site provided at the end of this entry.
I am anxiously waiting to go to a performance that compiles many traditions from various provinces this Friday or Saturday night. Maybe I might get to see La Llorona (Mexican equivalent to the boogie monster- she is a dead woman that lost her children and now wails about in the night looking for them- occasionally resorting to someone else’s children. . .) or hear Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo dropping in to say “Hola.”
Appreciate the seasons and the local traditions where you’re at and allow for others to experience them as well. Teach those new in your area what it is that you do this time of year and likewise learn from them and their traditions.
See this video capturing some of the traditions that surround this time of year in Mexico:
Happy Halloween and ¡Feliz Dia de los Muertos!
To life and its sustentation,
–MLW
Some sights of interest:
Day of the Dead Blog: A Celebration of Life Especially see the photo gallery and the many entries by numerous people that are fans of the revered holiday.
Para información en español, lea el articulo La Celebración del Día de los Muertos y Su Simbolismo por Amelia Lamaignere.
Jan 25, 2010 @ 01:31:33
I know this is a very old blog post but I still want to make a comment anyway. Traditions like this one really interest me. Maybe one day I will be able to travel to Mexico with you two as guides and see real Mexican culture and traditions.
Apr 13, 2010 @ 01:21:50
This post was very interesting and helpful to me. I didn’t know that there is a tradition like this in Mexico. It seems very unique and very new to me. And I enjoyed the video cilp, too. I hope to be there some day!