¡Feliz Día de los Muertos! Happy Day of the Dead!
While the name may sound scary if you don’t know what it is, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a meaningful celebration to honor loved ones who have passed away. This vibrant holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico, and its popularity is spreading.
More people in the United States are starting to hear about Día de los Muertos because of movies like Disney’s Coco, but many still may not know what it is or why it’s celebrated. That’s why we put together a Día de los Muertos holiday guide for families:
Why is Día de los Muertos celebrated?
Families celebrate Día de los Muertos to honor their departed loved ones and keep their memories alive.
In many cultures, including in the U.S., traditions around death are solemn and reflective. When a loved one passes away, their family and friends typically mourn by wearing black and holding a moment of silence.
Día de los Muertos, on the other hand, is a lively and joyful celebration. Families decorate for the holiday with bright colors and celebrate by singing, dancing, and sharing stories as they remember the deceased.
According to tradition, spirits of the dead can return to the land of the living on Día de los Muertos and reunite with their loved ones.
What is the history of Día de los Muertos?
The origins of Día de los Muertos go back 3,000 years, to the Aztecs and other Nahua people who lived in what is now central Mexico. They believed souls continued after death and traveled to the Land of the Dead. They also held special festivals for Mictecacihuatl, the “Lady of the Dead” who ruled the underworld.
When Spanish invaders came to Mexico in the early 1500s, they brought many of their Catholic practices, including the holidays All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd). On these days, Catholics pray for and honor the dead.
Día de los Muertos combines the ancient Aztec customs with the Catholic holidays to create a unique celebration of life and death.
When is Día de los Muertos?
While the holiday may be called Day of the Dead, it actually spans two days, and each day serves a specific purpose.
Día de los Muertos begins on November 1st with Día de los Angelitos, or Day of the Little Angels, which honors children who have passed away. The belief is that children are eager to visit their families, so their spirits arrive a day before the spirits of adults.
Deceased adults return to the land of the living on November 2nd, sometimes referred to as Día de los Difuntos, or Day of the Deceased. This is when the main celebration takes place and is the day people tend to think of as Día de los Muertos.
How is Día de los Muertos celebrated?
The most significant Dia de los Muertos tradition is the altar, which families adorn with ofrendas, or offerings. Families set out the deceased’s favorite foods and traditional Día de los Muertos foods such as pan de muerto (bread of the dead).
The altars are also decorated with candles, photographs of the deceased, items that were important to them, marigolds, and calaveras (sugar skulls). All of these items, along with the foods, are believed to help departed loved ones find their way back home.
Marigolds, sometimes called flor de muerto (flower of the dead), are believed to be pathways that guide spirits to their ofrendas. It’s said that marigolds attract departed souls due to their vibrant colors and strong fragrances.
Calaveras are used because whimsical skulls and skeletons remind us that death is part of the experience of life, rather than something to be feared. They’re called sugar skulls because of the skull-shaped sugar candies, but calaveras can also take the form of decorations and face paint.
*Create your own calavera using our Día de los Muertos Drawing Activity!
Is Día de los Muertos related to Halloween?
Día de los Muertos and Halloween are often associated with one another because they occur around the same time — Halloween on October 31st and Día de los Muertos on November 1st and 2nd — and both involve spirits and skeletons. However, the two holidays have different origins and serve different purposes.
Halloween originated 2,000 years ago with the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season. It was thought that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead became thin, so people wore costumes to scare away ghosts.
While Halloween focuses on fear of the supernatural, Día de los Muertos welcomes spirits and celebrates both life and death.
Día de los Muertos is a lively and meaningful celebration of our departed loved ones. We hope this guide has helped you appreciate Día de los Muertos and its cultural significance, and perhaps even inspired you to look at death in a new way. ¡Feliz Día de los Muertos!
