Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebrations
The Dia de Muertos festival is one of the oldest celebrations of Mexican traditions. This time we are going to share with you what it means and where you can celebrate it in an atmosphere full of magic and mysticism.
Aztec mythology narrates the existence of a place called Mictlán, which was the land of the dead and the last level of the underworld. Before arriving there and reaching eternal rest, souls had to pass through several levels. Another version assures that around 800 B.C. the Aztecs began to celebrate a festivity during the months of July and August to commemorate the end of the corn, pumpkin, bean and chickpea harvest, in honor of Mictlancihuatl and Mictlantecuhtli, Mictlan's guardians. When the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, these beliefs were adapted to the Christian calendar and the Catholic festival of All Saints' Day, which is celebrated on November 1, coincided with the festival of All Souls of the Mesoamerican people. In this way, pre-Hispanic and Catholic culture were mixed.
Currently, November 1st is dedicated to deceased children and November 2nd to the deceased adults. The maximum representation of this celebration is reflected in the altars. Originally the tradition consisted in composing these altars with three levels: the sky, the earth and the underworld, in which diverse objects are placed like candles that guide and illuminate the way of the deceased, copal (aromatic resine), incense, religious images, traditional dishes, the portrait of the departed and of course food and drinks that the deceased liked.
The altars are adorned with colorful flowers such as manos de leon flowers (cockscomb). Some people place a path of lime on the floor because as marigold flowers, it has the effect of attracting the souls of the deceased. This rite is related to the pre-Hispanic tradition of burying the dead with offerings, food and personal objects for their departure to the afterlife.
One of the most representative places to celebrate these festivities in Mexico City is Coyoacan. Since 1985 it has been a tradition that the National Museum of Popular Cultures carries out activities for the celebration of the Day of the Dead. During the exhibition of altars, attendees have the opportunity to listen to live prehispanic music and eat tamales, gorditas, pozole, mole, pan de muerto served with a delicious chocolate or atole.