Dia de los Muertos ~ How will YOU celebrate YOUR ancestors?
Today, November 2, is Dia de los Muertos.
It is a time when families gather to honor and remember
deceased loved ones. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit
the living families in homes, businesses and cemeteries.
Anything can be placed on the altar for the visiting souls,
including traditional food, fresh flowers, pan de muerto (or bread for the
dead), candles, copal incense (aromatic
tree resin), fruits, cloths, photographs, favorite drinks of the deceased,
sugar folk toys, religious images and clothing.
Decorations also include tombstones, skulls and skeletons
made of clay and other materials, sugar skulls, and papel picado. Calaveras are
ubiquitous during Day of the Dead. A Calavera, or sugar skull, is a decorative
skulls made (usually by hand) from either sugar (called Alfeñiques) or clay
which are used in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. The skulls
are often drawn with a smile as to laugh at death itself and the name of each
departed is written on a sugar skull.
The names of the living are also written on these treats to
introduce children to the idea of death in an atmosphere of joyful celebration.
These sugar skulls are eaten and the living come to associate pleasant
sensations with the sadness of death.
Calaveras take many forms, such as sugar candies, clay
decorations, and most memorable: face painting. Sugar skulls are decorated and
placed on ofrendas of loved ones.
Most importantly, a photograph of the departed soul is
placed on the altar. Pan de muerto, bread for the dead, is sweet and baked in
shapes of skulls and human figures.
Traditional loaves are round with a central raised knob of
dough, representing the skull, with crossed bone-shaped decorations radiating
from the central knob.
Día de los Muertos also includes traditional dishes, such as
chicken in red or black mole sprinkled with sesame seeds; tortillas, tamales
made from ground corn; soft drinks or aguardiente (“white-lightning”
liquor),tequila and always a glass of water. It is believed that the returning
souls are thirsty after a long journey. Water is also believed to be a main
support of life.
The flower of the dead is called Cempasúchil (Náhuatl, or
Aztec, name for marigold) or “Flor de Muerto” (Spanish for Flower of Dead) and
symbolizes the beauty and fragility of life. Cempasúchil was the symbolic
flower of death for the Aztecs, because once it is cut, it dies very quickly.
Marigolds are believed to be the pathways that guide the
spirits to their ofrendas. The flower’s vibrant colors and scent attract the
departed souls, as they return to feast on their favorite foods. While orange
and yellow marigolds are the main flowers, magenta terciopelo (ruby coxcombs)
and nube (baby’s breath) are also traditionally displayed.
Copal (tree resin) is used as incense and is a symbolic
transformation of the physical to the supernatural, associated with the death
of the soul returning to the ofrenda.
Candles and fresh marigold flowers are placed on the altar
to light and guide the way of the souls to the altar. Paths are marked with
flower petals showing the departed souls the way to the altar. Day of the Dead
toys are also placed on the altar. Painted clay skeleton figures portray the
dead resuming their normal activities such as playing. Pull toys, coffins and
crank boxes are displayed for the dead to play with. Living with death in this
way means that we can learn learn to accept death as part of life.
(Sources: Day of the Dead Festival & Day of the Dead
Holiday)
How will YOU celebrate YOUR ancestors?
