Día de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and elsewhere that is closely associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. It began yesterday and ends at the close of tomorrow. 

Traditionally, this three day holiday includes friends and close family drawing together to celebrate those who have gone before.  This is not a day of mourning.  Moreover, it is not a Mexican Halloween celebration.  Halloween is a celebration of darkness, fear and the macabre - in contrast this is a joyous celebration.

The Day of the Dead traces its roots many thousands of years to the Aztec and Toltec cultures and their tradition of not mourning the dead. To these societies death was just a natural extension of life and during Día de los Muertos the dead returned to Earth for a visit. 

The centerpiece of this celebration is an altar - an ofrenda - built in private homes and in the graveyard. These are not altars for worshiping – instead they are a place for the leaving offerings for the returning spirits. You will find cold drinks, favorite foods, family pictures and toys for the spirits of children.  This is a time for a celebratory picnic with your dead ancestors at the cemetery. 

I do not have a home altar nor am I traveling a great distance to a cemetery.  Nevertheless, I intend to raise a Guinness with a nod of recognition to my ancestors this afternoon. 

Cheers!