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Dia de Muertos means “Day of the Dead” in Spanish. This Mexican holiday is to celebrate loved ones who have passed on. Participants believe that during the celebration period, the dead awaken and celebrate alongside them. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2.
THE HISTORY
Dia de Muertos is celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among many of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world. The roots go back 3,000 years to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what is now central Mexico saw death as an ever-present part of life.
MUSIC AND DANCING
Like any other celebration, Día de los Muertos is filled with music and dancing. Some popular dances include La Danza de Los Viejitos—the dance of the little old men—in which boys and young men dress as old men, walk around crouched over, then suddenly jump up in an energetic dance. Another dance is La Danza de Los Tecuanes—the jaguars’ dance that depicts farm workers hunting a jaguar.
THE SYMBOLS
The ofrenda is the most recognized symbol of Día de los Muertos. This temporary altar is a way for families to honor their loved ones and provide them what they need on their journey. They place pictures of the deceased, items that belonged to them, and objects that remind them of their lives on the ofrenda.
Every ofrenda also includes the four elements: water, wind, earth, and fire. Water is left in a pitcher so the spirits can quench their thirst. Papel Picado, or traditional paper banners, represent the wind. Earth is represented by food, especially bread. Candles are often left in the form of a cross so the spirits can find their way.
Another symbol of Dia de los Muertos are the calacas and calaveras–skeletons and skulls. They appear everywhere during the holiday: in sweets, as masks, embroidered onto clothing, and painted onto faces.
Calaveritas de azucar, or sugar skulls, along with toys, are left on the altars for children who have passed. The skull is used not as a morbid symbol but rather as a reminder of the cycle of life.
The cempasúchil, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. With their strong scent and bright color, the petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families’ homes.
Monarch butterflies play a role in Día de los Muertos because they are believed to hold the spirits of the departed. This belief stems from the fact that the first monarchs arrive in Mexico for the winter each fall on November 1, which coincides with Día de los Muertos.
LOCAL EVENT
Hartnell College in Salinas, in conjunction with Hospice Giving Foundation is offering a free Dia de Muertos celebration on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 from 6-8 pm. The event includes an exhibition of ofrendas, music, arts & crafts, and much more. Check hospicegiving.org/signature-events for additional information.