Sugar, Skulls and Marigolds: La Día de los Muertos

Ancestral veneration is a near universal tradition among humans. Every corner of the world has a celebration dedicated to the practice, with Mexico’s being la Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.

Rituals for the deceased have been present in Mexico for more than two millennia, with the modern-day festival originating from Aztec customs. According to their calendar, the Day of the Dead fell on the ninth month of Miccailhuitontli, which means “Feast to the Revered Deceased.”

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Today, the festival is split into two days of reverence, Nov. 2 is dedicated to honoring deceased adults, and Nov. 1 is dedicated to remembering lost children and infants, La Día de los Inocentes. Kids usually make a children’s altar (ofrendas) on Oct. 3¹, inviting los angelitos to come back for a visit late that night. Adults return on the night of Nov. 1, while on the final day families go to the cemetery to visit the graves of their relatives.

Graves are decorated with a variety of items to bring the dead home so they can hear the prayers of their family. Mexican marigolds called cempoaxochitl are thought to attract lost souls, in addition to offerings toys for children and bottles of tequila for adults. Pan de muerto is an egg bread baked in the shape of skulls for the festival, often eaten by children and left in tombs, along with the deceased’s favorite dishes. It is believed the spirits consume the essence of these offerings, taking the nutritional value but leaving the physical food behind.

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Pillows and blankets are often left at graves so their ancestors can rest after their long journey. Since the 18^th century, Mexicans have also developed the tradition of writing calaveras, which are short poems to remember the deceased relative. Despite being about the dead, these poems are often humorous in nature, describing a funny habit or telling a mocking anecdote about the person.

Today, la Día de los Muertos is practiced all over the world, often utilizing and adapting the original Mexican traditions to their culture, so look out for a celebration near you.