Those who are more familiar with Mexican culture already know that the Day of the Dead is the most important and deeply rooted celebration in the popular culture of this country. This festivity’s origins predate Catholicism’s influence, dating back to pre-Hispanic times.
Foto: Wikimedia Commons
The Queen of Mictlan in Mexica mythology
Among the various gods venerated by the Mexica culture was Mictēcacihuātl, the powerful “lady of the dead” who inhabited and was the guardian of the underworld (Mictlán). An impressive statue of this goddess of death, adorned with crowns and necklaces of skulls, is on display in Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology. La Catrina, the quintessential image of the Day of the Dead, is probably an evolution of this representation.
The pre-Hispanic culture believed that death was a natural and essential phase in the long cycle of life. When somebody of the people died it was necessary to organize a ceremony to guide his soul on the journey to the Mictlan. Therefore, offerings and altars were made to trace the path the souls should take.
Origin and evolution of the Mexican Day of the Dead
With the arrival of the Spaniards, the celebration evolved and formed a syncretism between the Catholic faith and the various customs of indigenous peoples. The dates were adjusted to the Christian calendar – November 1 and 2, All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day, respectively. This also coincided with the end of the agricultural cycle of maize, the country’s main food crop.
However, the central theme remained faithful to the vision of Mesoamerican peoples, in which death did not have the moral connotations of the Christian religion, and without the idea of hell and paradise as punishment or reward. In this way, death in Mexico, without losing its tragic side, also has a joyful and festive sense, and the objective of the Day of the Dead is to demonstrate the love and respect professed to the ancestors. It is a celebration to share funny stories about the deceased, eat the favorite soup of the grandmother who is no longer around, and remember relatives in the photos on the altars.
How the Day of the Dead is celebrated
In cities all over Mexico, people dress up in costumes and make-up, there are parades and parties, music and dances, and offerings are made to their loved ones. In the markets they sell candies such as the famous sugar skulls and bread of the dead, copal incense, papel picado for decorating, the cemeteries are filled with candles…. All this is adorned with thousands and thousands of flowers such as marigolds (or cempasúchil, in its Aztec name), which according to tradition, helps to create paths and guide loved ones to the altars.
A few years ago, the animation studio Pixar released Coco, a movie that illustrates in a very beautiful and touching way this Mexican holiday. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss it!
Today, the Day of the Dead is a celebration that receives thousands of tourists and was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2008.
Although we visit Mexico regularly, we have not yet been there for this holiday… And we can’t wait to do so!
