Day of the Dead Mexico

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During Day of the Dead Mexico Becomes...
The Center of a Festivity To Honor the Dead!


Marigold Parade Albuquerque, NM	Serenading the Dead	Marigold Parade Albuquerque, NM

During Day of the Dead Mexico becomes the destination for many travelers and with good reason. There is a feast dating back 3,000 years rooted in an Aztec tradition, where all families reunite and honor their dead people with offerings, visits to the gravesites, flowers, food and pictures of the deceased placed on the altar.

What Exactly Is Day of the Dead or �El D�a de los Muertos?�

�El D�a de los Muertos� is a 3-day celebration that calls upon the spirits of our ancestors to invite them to live among us, therefore honoring them is a must.

The ��nimas� or spirits of the deceased have permission from the dead world to come visit us. The dead comeback attracted by their previous homes, belongings and the love they feel from their families.

November 1st is the day to give family and friends a sample of the food offerings that make the �ofrenda de muertos� or the deceased offerings. �Day of the Dead bread� is an item that is always present in this offering. Also in this day we honor �los angelitos" or the deceased children. On November 2nd we honor the deceased adults.

We also celebrate "El D�a de los Muertos" in the U.S. with parades and especial events in galleries throughout Chicago, California, Texas and New Mexico.

During Day of the Dead Mexico Brings to Life a Great Piece of History

History comes alive when enjoying Day of the Dead in Mexico and in some parts of the U.S. This Aztec celebration was presided over by the Lady of the Dead named Mictecacihuatl and included many rituals dedicated to her and to the god of war Huitzilopochtli.

Convergence of Cultures
The Indigenous & The Catholic
Picture by Zocalo2010

Day of the Dead or �El D�a de los Muertos� in Mexico used to be an entire month celebration that fell on the month of Miccailhuitontli, the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar. This month probably corresponds to July 24 through August 12.

�El D�a de los Muertos� starts on October the 31st and ends on November the 2nd. The original dates of the festivity evolved after the arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico.

�The Catholic Dominicos came to Oaxaca to evangelize the land and unified the Aztec celebration with the religious festivities of �El D�a de Todos Los Santos� or -All Saints Day- on November 1st , and �El D�a de Todos Los Muertos� or -All Souls Day- on November 2nd.

Day of the Dead Altars

Altar at the Grave
Picture by Zocalo2010

During Day of the Dead Mexico dresses itself with skulls and altars, where families place all the offerings for the deceased.

The altars of "El D�a de los Muertos" can be at home or on top of the grave and the decorations of the Altars vary in accordance to each region of Mexico where this holiday is celebrated.

The Day of the Dead altars are generally on a table that we cover with a table cloth, a white sheet, or simple cut paper. We tie pieces of sugar cane or �carrizos� in the shape of an arch to the legs of the table to welcome the deceased.

We place offerings at the altars on the morning of October 31st, and while we prepare the Day of the Dead altars we remember all our deceased family members.

What do we place at the Day of the Dead altars? We place the objects that most represent the things that our deceased enjoyed while they were alive.

Decorations for "El Dia de los Muertos"

Marigolds
Picture by Zocalo2010

During Day of the Dead Mexico becomes a fragrant place invaded with the traditional scent of �cempas�chil" - yellow-orange marigolds, - along animated figures of �calacas� or skeletons, and sugar skulls.

Other important objects are Day of the Dead bread or "pan de muerto," a lamp that contains �higuerilla�oil, white and yellow candles and �velones,� a special kind of candle commonly used to pray. Religious images and pictures of the deceased are also customary.

Pumpkin Skulls
Picture by Voodoorootbeer

Valerie Menard wrote in The Latino Holiday Book "The most important character on D�a de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is the key symbol of death, the calavera." Don't be surprised to see skulls everywhere! Embrace them as they are symbolic of life.

During Day of the Dead Mexico initiates the celebration in the middle of October when all participants purchase the elements for the offerings they want to place at the altar.

Several days before Day of the Dead Mexico becomes particularly colorful as markets and homes use decorations with characteristic objects and scents that make this holiday one of the most picturesque in Mexico.

Day of the Dead Bread Recipe and Food Offerings

Pan de Muerto
Day of the Dead Bread
Picture by Check T

Day of the Dead bread is essential. Other foods we use in �El D�a de los Muertos� are �el mole negro,� los dulces Oaxaque�os like pumpkin preserve, �las manzanitas de tejocote,� along with chocolate and �el pan de muerto� �Day of the Dead bread. We also use seasonal fruits to decorate the altares.

I included this delicious and relatively easy Day of the Dead bread recipe for you to try. It yields 2 loaves, and takes 20 minutes of Prep Time and 25 minutes to Cook. Enjoy!

1 package granulated yeast

4 1/2 cups flour

6 eggs

6 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

200 grams butter

1/4 cup orange blossom water

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Icing and sprinkles

Preparation

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Mix in 1/2 cup flour. Leave mixture in a warm place until it doubles in size.

Sift together salt, sugar, cinnamon and flour.

Add the remaining ingredients, but only half the butter.

Add the yeast dough and mix until it forms thick dough but not hard.

Tip: Make sure dough doesn�t stick to the table before placing it in a large greased bowl. Cover it.

Let dough rise until it doubles in size. Pound it again, and add the rest of the butter.

Divide the dough into three equal parts. Use two for the loaves and one to decorate the loaves.

Let loaves double in size.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until nicely browned.

Sprinkle with sugar while warm.

After the loaves have cooled, decorate with icing and other pastry confections to create skulls, bones or names of the deceased.

During Day of the Dead Mexico transforms itself into a wonderful town that mixes fun, reverence, remembrance and respect. This is one of best holidays celebrated in South America that gives us an opportunity to reunite with those who have passed away and are still in our hearts. It is like connecting two worlds without any trace of fear!

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