Celebrating Mexico’s Day of the Dead
Happy Halloween from all of us here at Wild Bum! As you already know, Halloween means it’s October 31st (aka: the last day of the month) which also means we must bid farewell to our October Place of the Month, Mexico. 🙁
But, before we do… we have a few final tid-bits that we want to share with you about this amazing country. Specifically, about Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). And we are just in time to talk about this incredible Mexican tradition, since it’s right around the corner and begins tomorrow, November 1st.
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We have guides for everywhere from Tulum to Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta to Huatulco. Check out all of our Mexico guides right here.
What is Day of the Dead?
You have probably heard about Day of the Dead before and you may already have an idea of what it is. But if not, here is a quick explanation. Day of the Dead is a celebration that takes place over two days in Mexico every November. Simply put, it’s a day when the living can be reunited with those who have passed.
When is Day of the Dead?
Day of the dead takes place every November 1-2. It spans over the entirety of these two days and there are different things taking place each day. There are many traditions that are part of this celebration.
November 1st, beginning at 12am, is considered Dia de los Angelitos or Day of the Little Angels and is a day to celebrate the spirits of the children who have passed. November 2nd, beginning at 12am, is for celebrating adult spirits. Then, at noon on November 2nd it’s the grand finale. All spirits are celebrated.
How is it Celebrated?
Families, who have loved ones that have passed, create beautiful displays to honor those family members. These decorated altars are called ofrendas and they are usually intricately decorated with marigold flowers, along with photos of the deceased and some of their favorite things (like food and drinks).
Another important aspect of the celebrations, one that you’re likely to have seen, is the use of skulls, called calaveras. Often referred to as sugar skulls, they are made of clay or sugar and painted, usually with a smile on them to mock death. Then, they are placed on the ofrendas of the deceased.
3 Important Facts to Know About Day of the Dead
1. It’s not considered “Mexican Halloween” like many think! Since Day of the Dead falls just after the celebration of Halloween, it’s often confused. The two holidays do have some similar origins with celebrating the afterlife, however, they are not the same. Actually, Halloween (as we know of it in the United States) is not celebrated by most in Mexico.
2. As with most Mexican celebrations, food is a huge part of the Day of the Dead celebration. Families will make the favorite foods of their loved ones who have passed, and even the food can be decorated beautifully as an ofrenda. Read more about delicious Mexican cuisine here.
3. Dia de los Muertos is a celebration! While death is undoubtedly a sad event, this special holiday is not meant to be sad at all, but rather a happy celebration. Which is also why bright and beautiful decorations are used, and many times you will see skulls that are smiling.
One thing that we, at Wild Bum, love about traveling is its ability to bring us together with new cultures and traditions. Even when we can’t be there to properly celebrate in person, we can learn about and appreciate celebrations and events taking place in the countries that we travel to. Every culture and country has rich traditions and beautiful customs.
If you want to celebrate Day of the Dead, knowledge is key. It’s important to know and understand the event and it’s traditions before partaking. While it’s wonderful to be interested in new cultures and their customs, we always want to be respectful.
Check out this website for more information on celebrating Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
Happy Halloween from all of us here at Wild Bum! As you already know, Halloween means it’s October 31st (aka: the last day of the month) which also means we must bid farewell to our October Place of the Month, Mexico. 🙁 But, before we do… we have a few final tid-bits that we want…