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Halloween….Do Mexican’s Celebrate?
In the U.S., of course Mexican’s celebrate Halloween. Come on, what kid doesn’t want all that loot?
However, many Mexicans and others through out Central America celebrate a version of the following.
The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is a holiday celebrated in many parts of the world, typically on November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and November 2 (All Souls’ Day).
In Mexico, where the holiday originated, the holiday has ancient Aztec and Mesoamerican roots, and is a national holiday. Observance of the holiday has spread to Mexican-American communities in the United States, where in some locations, the traditions are being extended.
Mexicans don’t have the same hang ups about death as do most North American Caucasians.
Celebrants typically approach the Day of the Dead joyfully, and though it occurs at the same time as Halloween, All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day, the traditional mood is brighter celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased, and celebrating the continuation of life.
The belief is not that death is the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life. Some Mexicans feel death is a special occasion, but because the soul is passing into another life.
Plans for the festival are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead.
During the period of November 1 and November 2, families usually clean and decorate the graves. Most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange marigold called “cempasuchil”, originally named cempaxochitl, Nahuatl for “twenty flowers”, in modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term “Flor de Muerto”, Spanish for “Flower of the Dead”. These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.
Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or little angels), and bottles of tequila, mezcal, pulque or atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased’s favorite candies on the grave.
Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto (“bread of the dead”) or sugar skulls and beverages such as atole.
The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the “spiritual essence” of the ofrenda food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivity, they believe it lacks nutritional value. The pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey.
In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of Mixquic, Pátzcuaro and Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives.
Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes. These altars usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, and scores of candles.
Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased.
In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing so when they dance the dead will wake up because of the noise. Some will dress up as the deceased.
Emeric McCleary
