In Mexico the Day of the Dead is celebrated in accordance to one of the oldest traditions rooted in a mystical combination of the awe-inspiring enigmas of life and death. It is said that those who passed away “went ahead” of the rest of the people on the road to eternal life and that around this date they return to enjoy and keep company to their loved ones who observe the day telling them that they are not alone, while keeping alive their memory.
This tradition is the only one in which the Pre-Hispanic Nahua traditions coincide with the Hispanic-European evangelization. These two ideologies seem to have a common ground and in it they have found in this date a way of worshiping, talking about family, love, life, death and, of course, about what lies beyond the threshold of earthbound existence (1).
“The dead, souls, spirits, tonalli, teyolia, ihiyotl”, are some of the words that in these days symbolize life that returns with remembrance, and the joy of receiving those who were beloved. They are links that connect communal life.
There is a festive mood days ahead of the 1st and 2nd days of November. Peoples’ dwellings fill with the aromas of things that were the delight of those who passed away. Traditional food or whatever was to their liking or gave them joy is displayed on the altar present in every home, dressed luxuriantly in their honor.
On November 1st the offerings on the altar are for children that died the year before. November 2nd is the remembrance of adults. The displays include cacao, fruit, seeds, wax, food, etc., preserving the traditions of an agricultural society that were initially celebrated in August and November; these are combined with the Hispanic tradition of All Saints’ Day. Thus, these dates conserve the Pre-Hispanic traditions and combine with the ones that came after the Conquest such as chocolate and bread made from flour. Added to these there can be things that the deceased used to like such as mezcal or tequila. This creates a more personal interest to visitors who will also find sweets made from squash, tejocote (an apple like fruit), loquat, multicolored sugar skulls and the rest.
Finally, cempasúchil (brilliant yellow flowers) are used as ornaments. Their aroma fills the houses also adorned with paper cutout banners, photos of the deceased and some traditional detail that varies by regions.
Besides the altars in their homes people decorate the graves of the dead with candles, and flowers and visit the graveyards where they share food with the dead. These are very moving moments when besides the sadness felt, there is also the joy of sharing with the dead, having been able to know them and going with them on the same road each year.
A kind of cosmovision is expressed in the Day of the Dead traditions; the holiday is filled with magic, worship and the cult of Mexico’s history. It is the opportunity to remember that life is finite. Above all it is the occasion to celebrate the light that now represents each of the members of the family or each friend that “went ahead” but remains present in the hearts of those left behind, as if they were still alive.
References:
(1) Mendoza, J. Que viva el Día de Muertos. Rituales que hay que vivir en torno a la muerte. Patrimonio Cultural y Turismo. Cuadernos 16. Ciudad de México. CONACULTA.
• Forbes Staff (2013) Día de Muertos en Oaxaca, convivir con los ancestros, Forbes Magazine, recovered on October 25 2021 at: https://bit.ly/3GmaMtZ
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