Los
Dias de los Muertos
Traditions and Celebrations
An important aspect of the holiday is the closure that it provides for
families who have lost a loved one during the previous year. Without embalming,
burial must take place within 24 hours of death. During this short period, the
body is laid out in the coffin at home, surrounded by candles, flowers, family
and friends. While the family and friends gather, and sit in vigil during the
night, then return for another week to recite the rosary, there is often little
time for acceptance or reality. Preparing for the return of the spirit each fall
lets the family remember and honor their dead, and gives them a chance to heal.
The act of preparing an altar by placing photographs, flowers, candles,
favorite foods and drink of the loved one provides a special time to remember,
and to transform grief into acceptance. The living invite the spirits of the
family to return home for a few hours of laughter, tears and memories.
A lively
procession with an open coffin parades though town. The
townspeople dress up as ghouls, ghosts, mummies and skeletons
and parade through the town carrying an open coffin. The
"corpse" waves and smiles. The local vendors toss
oranges inside as the procession makes its way past their
markets. Lucky "corpses" can also catch flowers,
fruits, and candies. In the homes families arrange ofrenda's
or "altars" with flowers, bread, fruit and candy.
Pictures of the deceased family members are added. In the late
afternoon special all night burning candles are lit - it is time
to remember the departed - the old ones, their parents and
grandparents.
Skeletons
and skulls are found everywhere. Chocolate skulls, marzipan
coffins, and white chocolate skeletons. Special loaves of bread
are baked, called pan de muertos, and decorated with
"bones. Handmade skeleton figurines, called calacas,
are part of the Day of the Dead celebration. Calacas
usually show an active and joyful afterlife. Figures of
musicians, generals on horseback, even skeletal brides, in their
white bridal gowns marching down the aisles with their boney
grooms.
Some families prepare the altar of offerings at the family grave site,
lighting a candle for each dead one, remembering the names, and placing flowers
or coronas (wreaths) at the cemetery. Many stay to visit, eat, drink and pray
while they keep a vigil during the night.
Families gather
in the graveyard. They arrive with hoes, picks and shovels. They
also carry flowers, candles, blankets, and picnic baskets. They
have come to clean the graves of their loved ones. The grave
sites are weeded and the dirt raked smooth. The Crypts are
scrubbed and swept. An ofrenda (an altar) is constructed near
the headstone. Colorful flowers, bread, fruit and candles are
placed on the graves. Candles are lit for each departed soul and
zenpasuchitls adorn the grave. It is believed that the strong
scent of these marigolds help the spirits make their way to this
world. All day people prepare for this all night gala. This is
by no means a somber event. The dead are welcomed happily. The
favorite foods of the departed have been prepared. Roaming
musicians play the favorite music of the departed. Some people
even bring radios and televisions. Food vendors set up outside
the cemetery gates for those who are not quite prepared or have
late night munchies. All night, throughout the cemetery
there is a grand family reunion of huge extended families, alive and dead, as
one by one, through stories, memories and dreams, the dead return. On this
night, those who wait realize the importance of living to be well remembered,
working to be well respected and loving to be well missed.
At the close of the celebration people run
around with skulls masks and ghost costumes to scare away any
spirits that might not want to return to the other world.
Once the spirits have returned to their world,
those alive know that for another year they have triumphed in the struggle
of life and that the only way to celebrate death is to live with courage. They
have faced death and have won, saying, "Look here, you old bald skull - you
fleshless one - you didn't get me - I have survived to live again today."
Skeletons
and skulls are found everywhere. Chocolate skulls, marzipan
coffins, and white chocolate skeletons. Special loaves of bread
are baked, called pan de muertos, and decorated with
"bones. Handmade skeleton figurines, called calacas,
are part of the Day of the Dead celebration. Calacas
usually show an active and joyful afterlife. Figures of
musicians, generals on horseback, even skeletal brides, in their
white bridal gowns marching down the aisles with their boney
grooms.
Families gather
in the graveyard. They arrive with hoes, picks and shovels. They
also carry flowers, candles, blankets, and picnic baskets. They
have come to clean the graves of their loved ones. The grave
sites are weeded and the dirt raked smooth. The Crypts are
scrubbed and swept. An ofrenda (an altar) is constructed near
the headstone. Colorful flowers, bread, fruit and candles are
placed on the graves. Candles are lit for each departed soul and
zenpasuchitls adorn the grave. It is believed that the strong
scent of these marigolds help the spirits make their way to this
world. All day people prepare for this all night gala. This is
by no means a somber event. The dead are welcomed happily. The
favorite foods of the departed have been prepared. Roaming
musicians play the favorite music of the departed. Some people
even bring radios and televisions. Food vendors set up outside
the cemetery gates for those who are not quite prepared or have
late night munchies. All night, throughout the cemetery
there is a grand family reunion of huge extended families, alive and dead, as
one by one, through stories, memories and dreams, the dead return. On this
night, those who wait realize the importance of living to be well remembered,
working to be well respected and loving to be well missed.