Day of the Dead and Mexico’s festivities
Mexico has many annual celebrations, but one of the most iconic is the Day of the Dead. Along with the Day of the Dead and its various festivals and carnivals, the country has several other great celebrations, each with its own unique quirks and fun things to do!
Almost all of the country’s national holidays are designed as an opportunity to remember Mexico’s heritage and enjoy its culture. For example, the February carnivals in cities such as Veracruz, Ciudad de México and Mérida celebrate Mexico’s religious and indigenous heritage.
Of course, some are more serious and celebrate important political events, such as Mexico’s Independence Day on 16 September.
The Day of the Dead could be seen as something in between: remembering our deceased family members is serious, yes, but why not celebrate their lives instead of mourning their deaths?
What is Day of the Dead all about?
The Day of the Dead tradition blends Mesoamerican rituals with some elements of European religions and dates back 3,000 years. The Aztec and Nahua people believed that death was as important as life because they saw the universe as a cycle of birth and death of all things. So instead of seeing death as the end, they saw it as another step on the journey.
In the myth of the Day of the Dead, a person travels to Chicunamictlán, or the Land of the Dead, where they die. The soul’s goal is to reach its final resting place, known as Mictlán.
The festival takes place every year between 31 October and 2 November. According to tradition, the spirits are able to leave their resting place and visit the land of the living for one day. So, families make ofrendas with pictures of their loved ones, along with their favourite foods, to show them that they still have a place in their lives, even if they’re far away.
Not only that, but they also decorate everything with colourful skulls and all kinds of skeletons. Truly a sight to behold!
A Day to (Be) Remember(ed)
Saying goodbye is hard, but no one is ever really gone as long as you remember them! That is why the indigenous people never forget their loved ones, choosing to help them on their journey through the Land of the Dead and always thinking of them.
Mexican culture shows everyone that we’re at our best when we care and remember to help others!
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