Day of the Dead Mexico. Day of the Dead in Mexico. Modern integration and Day of the Dead symbol

The Mexican poet and culturologist Octavio Paz once remarked: “The Mexican, instead of being afraid of death, seeks her company, teases her, flirts with her. This is his favorite toy and enduring love.” The bond the locals have with this lady is truly special, and can best be experienced by attending the annual Day of the Dead celebration.

Dia de Los Muertos, The Day of the Dead (or rather, two days) is celebrated on November 1-2. Despite such a dull name, in Mexico this is perhaps the most joyful and family celebration when the living commemorate kind word their dead relatives, invite their souls to visit, are not afraid to make fun of death - and even kiss it. After all, Mexican death is, after all, a woman.

Mexicans affectionately call death La Catrina. In their imagination, La Catrina does not at all look like an ugly old woman with a scythe, but, on the contrary, resembles a frantiha dressed to the nines, a graceful girlish skeleton, smiling cordially at her fellow countrymen.

Baptism Mictlancihuatl

The Day of the Dead is a holiday that is hundreds of years old. It miraculously intertwined Christian traditions with the rituals of pre-Columbian America, preserved since the time when the two greatest Indian civilizations, namely the Aztecs and the Maya, inhabited the territory of modern Mexico.

The ancient Aztecs honored the goddess of death on a special scale. Mictlancihuatl, and that is how her name sounded in those days, was portrayed as a very pretty young lady, though with a skull instead of a face. She was always dressed in a skirt of rattlesnakes, which, according to the beliefs of the Indians, acted as guides to the afterlife.

After the Spanish conquistadors, who suddenly attacked the Yucatan, undertook to root the faith of Christ among the natives with fire and sword, pagan holiday was likened to the Catholic Day of All Saints and moved in the calendar from mid-summer to the first days of November. Mictlancihuatl herself adopted the name of La Catrina in baptism and changed her “rattling” skirt to the colorful outfit of a rich Mexican duenna. However, the essence of the holiday has not changed - the Mexicans on this day, like hundreds of years ago, commemorate their deceased relatives, and not saints at all.

Sweet offerings

The first day of the holiday, called Día de los Angelitos ("Day of the Angels"), is dedicated to the commemoration of dead children, and the second - to all the rest of the dead. The main attribute of the holiday is an altar built by the relatives of the deceased. The altar is certainly decorated with flowers - white, lilac or fiery red marigolds. Each family tries to outdo their neighbors in decorating the altar. Among Mexicans who love to brag, competitions are even held to determine the best “funeral flower bed”.

In addition to decorations with flowers and aromatic candles, the altar is filled with items related to the deceased, those things that will be useful to him in the afterlife. In anticipation of a guest from the other world, caring relatives prepare gifts in the form of jewelry, memorable photographs, cigarettes and, of course, edible gifts. The living believe that on these holidays the souls of the dead visit those with whom they had to be separated. They are not averse to joining a cheerful family feast, which is why the Mexicans try to treat their dear guests with the spirit of their favorite dishes.

If the first day of the holiday is usually spent in the family circle, then the second is dedicated to unrestrained fun and carnival processions. Thousands of marigolds bloom in the city squares, the central streets are filled with mummers - spirits, cheerful ghosts, skeletons, rattling bones to the beat of the music. mexican different ages with pleasure they try on the image of La Katrina - the fatal beauty of death.

Shop windows are filled to the brim with miniature coffins, skulls and skeletons made of sugar, chocolate, paper, cardboard and clay, as well as other attributes of the holiday. This souvenir product is no less popular among tourists than among the Mexicans themselves. These days, in all of Mexico, you cannot find a house where the name of a noseless duenna is not mentioned.

The culmination of the holiday is a visit to the cemetery. Mexicans bring with them flowers and candles, photographs and memorabilia of the deceased, favorite foods and drinks, which instantly turn the cemetery from a place of mourning into a cozy and “living” place. People have long conversations with their deceased relatives, have picnics, sing and dance right at the graves. From everywhere you can hear the ringing of bells, which helps the souls of the dead not to get lost and find their way home.

Día de los Muertos is a collective feast, when the dead are commemorated not on the day when they died, but all together, nationwide - with songs, jokes and dances. All this is reminiscent of a naive attempt to drown the pain of a particular person in collective fun.

Overcoming fear is the key idea of the holiday, and it is no coincidence that everyone takes part in it, from the elderly, who are about to find themselves in the arms of La Catrina, to infants. Little Mexicans like to walk the streets in costumes of the dead, gobble up sugar skulls and marzipan coffins by both cheeks, and literally hold death by the hand.

There is something absolutely correct in this seeming "savagery". Mexicans meet La Catrina at a very tender age, so they have no fear of death, but only friendly relations with her.

1 comment

A very strange holiday, I have never even heard of it. Also surprising and one might say strange way of doing it. Thank you, now I will remember this day!

One of my favorite skull designs has always been the Calavera style. Damn, this is really cool! If someone is frightened by the usual gloomy skulls, then the cheerful painted calaveras cannot but arouse sympathy. Today, skulls painted in this style are fashion trend. They can be seen on clothes or tattoos, it is fashionable to arrange photo shoots with the appropriate makeup. Actually, I welcome all these manifestations. And if one of the lovely ladies, drawing a calavera on their face, suddenly thinks about what it means at all, then this article will come in handy for them. And it all started in distant Mexico ...

The day of the Dead

Translated from Spanish, calavera means, oddly enough, "skull". In Mexico, it is a symbol of the Day of the Dead, which is treated with great honor there. Day of the Dead appeared as a result of the fusion of two cultures - Spanish and Indian. The conquistadors, who came in large numbers from the Old World, tried in every possible way to eradicate the culture of the Mayans and the Aztecs and instill their traditions in them.

Among the imposed Catholic holidays were All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which fell on November 1 and 2. During the celebration, among other things, it was supposed to make donations and offerings to church altars. In theory, this was supposed to help the souls of the dead to shorten the period of sad pastime in purgatory and quickly go to heaven.

However, the burnt pagan Indians took everything in their own way. Before the conquest by the Europeans, they naturally had their own rituals associated with the bony. They had two holidays, the names of which are better not to try to pronounce - Mikailuitontli and Sokotuetztli. During the first, dead children were honored, and during the second, adults were honored.

The result of this mixing was two holidays that are still celebrated in Mexico, the Day of the Angels (Dia de los Angelitos) and the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). They are celebrated on November 1 and 2 and are also divided according to age. Instead of donations to the church, the Indians began to bring gifts to the dead themselves.

Since death, in the view of the Mexican Indians, was considered a bright beginning, it is customary to make noise and have fun on the Day of the Dead. It is believed that on the night of November 1-2, the souls of the dead return to visit their loved ones. Therefore, Mexicans often gather in families or communities and spend time in cemeteries.

By tradition, fairs and festive processions are organized at this time, an obligatory attribute of which is Calavera Katrina - a skeleton in women's clothing, decorated with flowers and paints. Many believe that she became the incarnation of the goddess of death, Mictlancihuatl (I'm not even trying to write this name, I'm stupidly copying), in honor of which the ancient Indians brought more than one thousand human sacrifices.

Another theory refers to the Mexican illustrator José Posada, who lived in the late 19th and early 20th century. Posada became the founder of a series of cartoons in which all sections of the then Mexican society were depicted as skeletons. The main idea of Posad was that regardless of your position, role in society and level of prosperity, the same end awaits all of us, and in the face of death we are all equal.

One of his most famous works is the engraving "Katrina". It depicts a female skeleton in a fashionable hat decorated with flowers, which could only be afforded by representatives of the wealthy classes. The word "Katrina" in Spanish means "dandy". Allegedly, this engraving is the prototype of this Katrina Calavera.

Calavera Katrina. Zinc engraving by José Posada

I do not know which theory is correct, but the second one impresses me more. Decorating your appearance with the symbols of Calavera, be simpler, more humane or something, do not upset Leonid Arkadyevich. No matter how dressed up and puffed up you are, no matter how important you feel, this will not make you special in the eyes of a bony one. And in this I fully support the views of Jose, his mother, Posada.

There are countries in which death is treated with humor. Mexico is probably the brightest of them. Historically, death is viewed here from a slightly different angle than in typical Europe, for example. For Mexicans, death is not the end, but the beginning. Therefore, the deceased are not commemorated or mourned here. Once a year they are greeted with joy on their faces. On this day, everything turns upside down: the day changes with the night, the city is filled with people dressed in the costumes of the dead, and the cemetery becomes the most visited place. This is how it goes feast of the dead in Mexico. What is the name of this action? You may have heard this phrase before: Dia de los Muertos. And now let's take a closer look at this reckless event and try to figure out what its philosophy is.

Story

The Feast of the Dead in Mexico has its roots in Aztec and Mayan times. In their belief system, death took on the form of a certain ritual, as did resurrection. Even before the Spaniards conquered Mexico, the skulls of their deceased relatives were kept in the houses of the Aztecs, which were actively used in Aztec ceremonies.

In the summer, the Aztecs allocated a whole month, during which a series of sacrifices was arranged. Thus, they paid tribute to the dead and the afterlife in general with its mistress - the goddess Mictlancihuatl.

The early conquerors of Mexico noticed that the Aztecs mocked death in their rites. These rituals were recognized as blasphemous, and sanctions began to be imposed against those who practice them. The indigenous population of Central America was forced to convert to Catholicism, but the ancient traditions remained unchanged. The government managed to reduce the period of sacrifices and rampant ritual action to a few days. However, it could not replace the joy of people with sorrow, and the skull, which is the main attribute of the Feast of the Dead, with the cross. What became the basis for such an event as the feast of the dead in Mexico: myth or reality, it is difficult to say. One thing is for sure - this day unites millions of people.

When is the holiday?

They tried to adjust the ancient pagan holiday to the maximum to fit the Christian canon. It used to be celebrated on the 9th month of the Aztec calendar, but was later moved to November 1-2. On this day, Catholics celebrate the Day of the Dead and sometimes the feast of the dead in Mexico begins to be celebrated on October 31st. Since this action has the status of a national holiday, state enterprises and schools do not work on these days. The holiday is conditionally divided into the Day of the Little Angels (November 1) and the Day of the Dead itself (November 2). On the first day, the dead babies and children are honored, and on the second - adults.

Traditions

According to Mexican beliefs, the dead do not go away forever, but continue to live in the underworld, which is called Mictlan. Therefore, death for them is the same holiday as birth. In fact, she is the birth, but in a different guise. Mexicans believe that once a year the dead come to their homes to visit relatives, do their favorite things and feel the beauty of life.

Preparations for the Day of the Dead begin months in advance. In educational institutions and all kinds of communities, costumes, masks and life-size puppets are made. Musicians prepare for performances, altars are transformed, and flower companies receive large orders.

Altar and offerings

An altar made of yellow marigolds is considered a symbolic door between the world of the living and the dead. Altars are installed everywhere so that the souls of the dead can go home through them. In recent years, they can be found even in schools, shops, restaurants, hospitals, on the main streets and other crowded places. Marigold in this regard is often called the flower of the dead.

Various gifts are placed at the altar: candles, toys, fruits, tamales (a national dish made from cornmeal) and so on. Water is considered essential attributes (the dead are thirsty after long journeys) and sweet "bread of the dead".

For the holiday, women prepare the favorite dishes of the deceased relative and make the bed so that he can rest. Family and friends come together to welcome the deceased with joy.

Skulls and skeletons

When the Feast of the Dead approaches, everything in Mexico is filled with its symbols - skulls, skeletons and coffins. On any counter you can find these attributes in the form of chocolates, figurines, key rings and other tinsel. In shop windows they are often stacked in the form of pyramids, tsompatli. Tsompatl - a wall of skulls of defeated enemies, symbolizing the inextricable link between the living and the dead.

Skulls and skeletons can be seen literally everywhere on this holiday: on doors, walls, asphalt, clothes and even skin. If you are presented with a coffin with your name on the Day of the Dead, do not be offended - you are sincerely wished all the best. Such gifts are given to people close and dear to the soul.

"Calavera Katrina"

Another interesting character which can boast National holiday dead in Mexico. It is a skeleton dressed in rich women's outfits with a wide-brimmed hat. The phrase "Calavera Katrina" literally translates as "Katrina's Skull". Often this symbol is called the "skull of a fashionista." Many locals believe that this is what the goddess of the dead looks like. But in reality, this symbol became known from the engraving of La Calavera de la Catrina in 1913, which was completed by the artist José Guadalupe Posad. In this way, he wanted to illustrate that even the richest and most successful will one day become victims of death. One way or another, over time, the image of Katrina firmly entrenched in the status of one of the main symbols of such an event as the feast of the dead in Mexico. Makeup for women on this day often symbolizes the same Katrina.

Hike to the cemetery

On this holiday, it is almost impossible to find a free space in the parking lots near the cemetery. Entire families come here to take care of the graves of relatives, cover them with bouquets of marigolds, decorate them with candles, bring the deceased's favorite dishes and drinks. Picnics and dances to national music are also organized here.

An evening trip to the cemetery for Mexicans is not a sad event, but a real holiday. They meet their relatives here, have fun and just have a good time. There is an idyll around each grave: men talk sincerely, women set the table, elders tell the younger ones funny stories from life, children play, and no one is afraid of the day when death overtakes him too.

Parade of the Dead

Sincere night gatherings in the cemetery are more common in small towns. In megacities, real carnivals are more often arranged. The Feast of the Dead in Mexico, whose photographs amaze with the level of organization, is held on a grand scale. The city, empty during the day, with the advent of night is filled with orchestras. Classical and folk musical instruments create a colorful atmosphere that the locals believe will raise the dead from the grave. At least she inspires the living to dance until the morning.

Huge groups of people form behind wandering orchestras. Most of them dress up in colorful outfits and paraphernalia, which is famous for the feast of the dead in Mexico. The masks that can be found on people on this day mostly represent death. But all of them, as well as souvenir skulls, are endowed with a wide sincere smile. The procession has no clear direction and schedule. Anyone can join him. Carnival captivates the whole city, but with the advent of dawn on November 3, it fades for a whole year.

Regional differences

Just imagine: today, in some cities, the Day of the Dead dwarfs Christmas in its scope. However, in each of the cities the holiday is celebrated in its own way and on a different scale. For example, in the city of Oaxaca de Juarez, the carnival procession is considered the main event of the day. Meanwhile, in the Valley of Mexico, most of the resources are spent on decorating houses and altars.

In the city of Pomuch, traditions of pre-Columbian times are observed. Here, the bodies of deceased relatives are annually exhumed and cleansed of their flesh. In the Tlahuac region, ancient rural traditions are honored and lavish festivities are held in cemeteries. In Ocotepeque, sacrifices are carried out in huge numbers. And the roads from the houses where Last year people have died, up to the cemetery they are strewn with flower petals.

Similarity to Halloween

The main holiday in Mexico, the Day of the Dead, takes place around the same time as Halloween, and has a number of similarities with it. Both holidays originated in the days of early cultures and at one time, one way or another, mixed with the Christian faith. The Day of the Dead, like Halloween, is based on the belief that the dead return to our world. The paraphernalia of the holidays, wholly reminiscent of death, also has common features.

However, there is a significant difference between the two events. Halloween symbolizes the fear of death. It is replete with characters with a negative reputation: witches, vampires, demons, zombies, and so on. Halloween masks are worn so that evil creatures take people for their own and do not harm them. On the Day of the Dead, the opposite is true - the dead are welcomed, and death is perceived as the birth of something new, bright and great.

The Day of the Dead is so popular all over the world that even in the countries of the former CIS they make tattoos with its attributes. Most often, the same Calavera Katrina is depicted on the body, which many consider the incarnation of Mictlancihuatl.

Conclusion

Today we got acquainted with such an unusual holiday as the Mexican Day of the Dead. Definitely, the Mexican philosophy regarding death deserves attention and at least makes one think that perhaps our fear of death is greatly exaggerated. And the deceased, perhaps, would be much more pleasant to see smiles on the faces of their relatives, and not grief.

Mexican holiday "Day of the Dead"- one of the most shocking, and at the same time, exciting and original holidays in the world. "Dia de los Muertos", as it is literally called in Mexico, is the time when thousands of the dead come to life and take to the streets of cities, celebrating and having fun, along with the living. At this time, in Mexico, everything seems to be turned upside down: the night turns into day, the cemetery becomes the most popular vacation spot in the city, the living put on the guise of the dead, the dead come to life. We will tell about this authentic Mexican holiday dedicated to the dead in our article.

It should be noted right away that in Mexico a completely different attitude towards death is practiced than in our country and in Europe. Death for the Mexicans is not the end of everything, but only a continuation of life, but in a different, more better world. Therefore, it is customary here not to commemorate the dead, as we do, but to meet with joy and fun. After all, the Mexican "Day of the Dead" is really a holiday, because, only at this time, beloved dead relatives have the opportunity to visit their loved ones left in this world.

The history of this holiday goes back to the time of the pagan beliefs of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, and is associated with the traditions of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans, who practiced various rituals of death and resurrection of the dead. Before the Spanish conquered Mexico, it was customary for the Aztecs to keep the skulls of their relatives in their homes and use them in all sorts of ceremonies. During one summer month, they arranged bloody sacrifices in order to pay tribute to their dead ancestors, the entire afterlife and the patroness of that world, the goddess Mictlancihuatl. The first conquerors of Mexico, when they saw such rites, were shocked, because while conducting them, the Aztecs seemed to laugh at death, Indian rituals were a real blasphemy in the eyes of enlightened Europeans. The Spaniards began an urgent conversion of the indigenous population of Central America to the Catholic faith, although it was very difficult to eradicate the traditions that had taken root here for centuries. They managed to cancel the bloody sacrifices, as well as reduce this holiday to a couple of days a year. However, the replacement of joy with sorrow and the skull - the main symbol of the Mexican holiday "Dia de los Muertos" - with the cross - failed.

Until now, for tourists who have come to this holiday for the first time, it seems very extravagant, and this is probably a mild definition of feelings about this. Traditionally, the Day of the Dead holiday is celebrated on the first and second of November. Moreover, the celebration goes on throughout Mexico. The Mexicans claim that in those days the afterlife comes to life, and souls are waiting in their earthly dwellings, decorating them with photographs of deceased relatives and friends, preparing their favorite sweets, symbols of the holiday are placed everywhere - bright skulls. Another symbol of the "Day of the Dead" is "Katrina" - a female skeleton dressed in a bright dress and a wide hat. He personifies the Aztec goddess of death, Mictlancihuatl.

What is most interesting is that now only the name of the holiday remains sinister, but he himself evokes only positive emotions. Thousands of people dressed up and made up as dead people walk along the streets, fairs work everywhere where festive attributes on this topic are sold: skeleton figurines, ceramic skulls, candles, various sweets, in the form of coffins, skeletons, skulls. On all major squares, the main streets of cities, huge skulls are installed, as well as bright installations are being built on the theme of the afterlife. It is very interesting these days to be on the main square of the capital of Mexico - the city of Mexico City, which is called Sokkalo Square or Constitution Square. On this square, which occupies two hundred and forty square meters, and which is the symbol of the city, there are ancient buildings left over from the time of the ancient capital of the Aztecs - Tenochtitlan, as well as incredibly beautiful colonial-style buildings built by Europeans. Not far from the square is a pyramid, on its top a century ago there was a Temple of the Sun God and the God of Rain. And it is on this square, on the Day of the Dead, that the traditions of the Mexicans emerge very clearly. But it is worth saying that in different parts of Mexico, during the celebration of the "Day of the Dead", there are some differences: if in the Valley of Mexico, the main attention is paid to decorating the altars and houses of the deceased people, then in the city of Oaxaca de Juarez, the holiday "Dia de los Muertos" goes on a grand scale: a real carnival starts here and the city is filled with "dancing skeletons" who have fun to the music of brass bands and mariachi songs. The deserted streets during the day, closer to the night, are filled with crowds of dancers, orchestras, followed by mummers and onlookers-tourists. Such processions arise completely spontaneously, without a route or schedule. Any person from the outside has the opportunity to join this raging crowd and roam the streets of the city after it. The carnival mood covers everyone and everyone, and it lasts until the first rays of the sun on the third of November. But in the Mexican town of Pomuch, the traditions of the Indians that existed even before the entry of Europeans to this mainland are still honored: on the “Day of the Dead”, the remains of loved ones are removed from the earth, they are cleaned of rotten flesh or carefully polished, bones already cleaned in previous years. Therefore, for faint-hearted tourists, we do not recommend going to that city and walking to the cemetery in those days. That is, as you already understood, in the traditions of celebrating the Day of the Dead in Mexico, there are some regional differences. But everywhere, the festive scope of these days in Mexico, overshadows the celebration of Christmas. Sometimes, Mexicans are so eager for the onset of the "Day of the Dead" that they begin to celebrate it, even a little earlier - from the thirty-first of October. "Dia de los Muertos" is the official national holiday of Mexico, the days of which are days off, neither schools nor businesses work during this period.

Holidays can be subdivided according to semantic load. On the first of November in Mexico they celebrate the "Day of little angels" - "Día de Angelitos", it is dedicated to honoring the memory of deceased children or babies. November 2nd, begins "Día de los Muertos" - honoring the adult dead. But this is preceded by many months of preparation, when the production of masks, costumes, life-size puppets begins in schools, institutes, and other communities, daily rehearsals of musicians take place, designs of solemn altars are created. Immediately before the holiday, these altars are created, which are decorated with flowers - yellow marigolds. It is believed that in this way it is possible to create a symbolic door between the worlds through which souls can return home. No wonder marigolds are called the "flower of the dead" - "flor del muerto". Such an altar should be in every Mexican home, and they are also created in squares, local schools, shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, airports. Not only flowers are laid at the altars, but also other offerings: candles, tamales - a Mexican dish made from cornmeal, fruits, toys - for small dead children, alcohol - for dead adults. Water is a mandatory attribute of every altar on the Day of the Dead, because the Mexicans believe that spirits suffer from thirst after traveling between worlds and from hunger, which can only be satisfied by a special sweet bread - "pan de muertos", literally "bread for the dead". ". Mexican women prepare dishes that the dead loved very much during their lifetime, in each house they specially make a bed on which the dead who came could rest. It is customary for relatives and friends to gather in houses to joyfully meet the deceased.

On the days before the holiday, on all the shelves of shops, shops sell symbols of the holiday - coffins, skulls, skeletons - they can be made of chocolate, clay, cardboard. In general, skulls and skeletons can be seen everywhere at this time: they are painted on the doors and windows of houses, on asphalt and walls, and these symbols should also be on clothes. But it is desirable that the skulls be painted with bright colors and smile, because the "Day of the Dead" in Mexico is a holiday of joy and fun, not sorrow and longing. Therefore, if these days you are presented with a symbolic skull or coffin, where your name is written, then do not be shocked: they did it with all their hearts, because it is customary in Mexico. Such gifts are made to all relatives and friends, as well as friends. In addition, on shop windows, you can often see pyramids - the Aztec "tzompantli", which the Indians erected from the skulls of defeated enemies. It is a Mexican symbol of the inextricable link between life and death.

During the celebration of the "Day of the Dead", it is customary to visit cemeteries at night, but this, again, is not a sad event, but the real culmination of the holiday and the long-awaited meeting with relatives who have gone to another world, the opportunity to spend time with them, drink and eat in a circle relatives and friends. It is worth warning, if suddenly you also decide to go to the cemetery these days to look at the traditions of the celebration of the Mexicans, that the parking lot will be busy, and the cars of local residents will flood several blocks around. People flock here in a dense stream. They clean the graves, sprinkle them with flower petals, put wreaths and bouquets of yellow marigolds, decorate with candles, bring here the most favorite food, drinks of their deceased, as well as his photographs. Then they arrange picnics and dances on the grave, to the cheerful music of mariachi musicians. For Europeans, this leads to a stupor and seems like blasphemy, but for Mexicans it is an opportunity to create a family idyll at each grave. Everything is like on ours family holidays: women fuss, laying the table, men communicate and tell interesting stories about the life of the deceased, well-dressed children play and run, and babies calmly doze off in strollers. But it is worth saying that most often, the traditions of sincere gatherings at the cemetery are now supported in small towns and villages, and residents of large cities prefer to arrange fun carnivals.

In any case, for Europeans, getting acquainted with the traditions of celebrating the "Day of the Dead" in Mexico will be a blow to the usual stereotypes and reveal a completely different and opposite point of view on death. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to visit this Mexican holiday, we highly recommend that you do so.

For five hundred years, the Catholic Church has tried to resist the holding of this national, so distinctive, full of pagan traditions Mexican holiday, and no propaganda, no prohibitions could exclude the celebration of the Day of the Dead, which is held on the night of the first of November, from the history of Mexico. In America, there is a similar holiday - Halloween, but in this country it is not filled with the same meaning as in Mexico, but has turned into a simple dressing up in imitating skeletons and witches carnival costumes and distributing sweets to children.

History and traditions of the holiday

The Day of the Dead is celebrated not only in Mexico, but also in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, the veneration of people close to them who have died alive goes back to the depths of centuries, this tradition has a connection with the Indian past of almost all Latin American countries. According to the beliefs of the Aztecs, Tarascos and Mayans, on the night of November 1 and until the second day of this autumn month, the souls of the dead can return from the underworld of Mictlan to their home and see their relatives and friends still living on this earth. Mexicans try to help dead loved ones find their way home, and millions of candles are lit in cemeteries these days and small arches made of flowers are placed on altars so that the departed soul can enter the world of the living.

The rituals held by Mexicans in cemeteries are not complete without offerings, but they are all peaceful in nature: next to the image of the deceased, water is placed, symbolizing life, bread and delicacies are placed that the deceased loved ones loved, and the cemetery itself is decorated with ribbons and flowers. These days, Mexicans cook tamal, a traditional dish made from cornmeal, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and meat from turkey, chicken, and pork. All this variety of products is wrapped in a banana leaf and consumed with pleasure in the cemetery. Sweets, so beloved by the Mexicans, are prepared in the form of skulls and symbols of death these days can be found not only as food, they decorate cities, homes and even vehicles.

Celebration order

It is celebrated by the whole family and even small children take an active part in it.

On the first day of honoring the dead, Mexicans remember the children who died, died at birth, due to illness or in the course of tragic cases. Toys and sweets are brought to cemeteries. This day is called the Day of the Angels. The whole family comes to the cemetery, where they commemorate the little "angels" who passed away so early.

The second day is dedicated to dead adults and Mexicans spend the whole night on the graves of their relatives. In Mexico, they firmly believe that while those who have gone to another world are remembered by the living, the souls of the dead acquire immortality and the right to a new incarnation.

How is the Day of the Dead

Mexican cemeteries are cordoned off by police cars, and it is almost impossible to find a parking space, since cars that arrived in advance at the Mexican cemetery are already parked for several kilometers near the places of rest for the dead. People are walking in dense rows to the cemetery, candles are burning in the twilight and flashes of tourists' cameras are flashing. Mexicans dress very smartly, men in white shirts, women in lace blouses, and older women adorn their hair with colored ribbons.

The cemetery takes on a festive look: tombstones and crosses are strewn with a bright carpet of flower petals, wreaths, bouquets, toys, photographs and souvenirs are placed everywhere, the smell of sweets, food and strong drinks floats in the air, music is played by vocal mariachis and people smile, lead unhurried conversations, and children play - these are not sad commemorations, this is the time when Mexicans rejoice at meeting their relatives.

The celebration of the Day of the Dead takes place in every Mexican city, in every village and village. You can even get on a tour of the cemetery or watch a competition that awards the most beautifully designed altar.