Day of the Dead in Mexico
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUUAgEWeYeI
By Aracely Hernandez. 1998 (updated 2002) / edited by Jaime Acosta.
El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), a Mexican celebration, is a day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of colored paper , flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades. It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31st and leave on November 2nd.
In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place ofrendas (offerings) of food such as pan de muertos (bread for the dead people) baked in shapes of skulls and figures, candles, incense, yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (also spelled zempasuchil) and most importantly a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar.
It might sound somewhat morbid, but the Mexicans react to death with mourning along with happiness and joy. They look at death with the same fear as any other culture, but there is a difference. They reflect their fear by mocking and living alongside death.
Living alongside death means that Mexicans have to learn to accept it within their lives. Death is apparent in everyday life. It is in art and even in children’s toys. It is not respected as it is in other cultures. Children play “funeral” with toys that are made to represent coffins and undertakers.
Death is laughed at its face. Many euphemisms are used for death, la calaca (the skeleton), la pelona (the baldy), la flaca (the skinny), and la huesuda (the bony). There are phrases, sayings, and poems that are popular with day of the dead. These sayings are cliches and lose meaning when translated. For example “La muerte es flaca y no puede conmigo” means “Death is skinny or weak and she can’t carry me.” Calaveras (skulls) are decorated with bright colors with the name of the departed inscribed on the head. Children carrying yellow marigolds enjoy the processions to the cemetery. Finally, at the cemetery, music is played and dances are made to honor the spirits. Death is a celebration in Mexico. Death is among them.
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