{"id":98880232,"date":"2015-11-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-11-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/travel-trends\/4-things-you-didn-t-know-about-the-day-of-the-dead\/"},"modified":"2024-10-28T13:37:18","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T17:37:18","slug":"4-things-you-didn-t-know-about-the-day-of-the-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/4-things-you-didn-t-know-about-the-day-of-the-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a1Feliz D\u00eda de Muertos! 7 Things to Know About the Day of the Dead"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Celebrated throughout the end of October until the first week of November, the Day of the Dead honors those who are not among us anymore. In addition to commemorating the departed, the occasion attempts to bring back their spirits for the day.<\/p>\n

D\u00eda de Muertos<\/em> has been observed in Mexico<\/a> for many years. In fact, November 2nd is a national holiday. But now the Day of the Dead has spread throughout the world as people of all stripes have embraced the holiday, especially after the success of the Pixar movie, Coco<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For those unfamiliar with Day of the Dead — or even those who think they know all about this fascinating holiday — here are a few things you might not know about the Day of the Dead!<\/p>\n

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It’s Not the Same as Halloween!<\/h2>\n

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Fans of major Hollywood films like Hocus Pocus<\/em> and Trick ‘r’ Treat<\/em> know that Halloween is based on the Celtic feasts of Samhain and All Hallows’ Eve. While the Day of the Dead is celebrated at around the same time as these festivals, it’s not directly associated with them. Rather, Day of the Dead is based on Mesoamerican holidays celebrated by groups like the Aztecs, Toltecs, and Mayans.<\/p>\n

Prior to the arrival of Columbus, these indigenous groups had been celebrating the Day of the Dead for over 3,000 years. With the Spanish conquest of the Americas, Day of the Dead festivities were adopted into the Catholic holidays of All Saint\u2019s Day, which is observed on November 1, and All Souls\u2019 Day, which is commemorated on November 2. Today, Day of the Dead is usually celebrated over the course of two days, with November 1 serving as a remembrance of children who had died and November 2 honoring adults.
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The Day Celebrates Life, Not Death<\/h2>\n

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Despite the name, the Day of the Dead is a boisterous celebration of life. In fact, for those who celebrate Day of the Dead, the prospect of reuniting with a deceased loved one is not a cause of dread, but of joy. Among the most important ways celebrants honor their loved ones is through special dances and parades. Mexico City<\/a>, for example, hosts a massive parade each year that often spans an entire week.<\/p>\n

This positive attitude towards death emerges from indigenous views of the afterlife. Traditionally, indigenous peoples saw death as part of a larger journey, with the final destination being Mictl\u00e1n, a heavenly part of the underworld presided over by the goddess Mictecac\u00edhuatl. Since the trip to Mictl\u00e1n could take years, family members often leave objects and food at the graves of their loved ones to help them on their journey.<\/p>\n

The Celebrations Are Positively Aztec<\/h2>\n

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The roots of Day of the Dead rituals stretch back over 3,000 years to the Aztecs, who performed them to honor the dead and welcome their spirits for a day. When Spanish settlers arrived in what is now Mexico in the early 1500s, they encountered these Aztec traditions. Over time, the rituals blended with Spanish Catholic practices tied to All Souls and All Saints Day, evolving into the holiday celebrated today.<\/div>\n
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Skulls Can Actually Be Sweet<\/h2>\n

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The predominant symbols of Day of the Dead celebrations are decorative skulls used to adorn altars, and edible versions are even given as gifts. These skulls are traditionally made of granulated sugar pressed into skull molds. They are frosted and painted to give more detail to their composition. Called calaveras de az\u00facar<\/em>, the skulls originate from Aztec rituals used to symbolize death and rebirth. It’s believed the sweet skull tradition was the idea of Italian missionaries in Mexico in the 17th century.
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It\u2019s UNESCO Official<\/h2>\n

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The UNESCO World Heritage<\/a> organization features mostly physical sites across the globe, but UNESCO also boasts a List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Day of the Dead ritual was placed on that list in 2003 to honor the traditions of expression surrounding Day of the Dead that are transferred from generation to generation. The Day of the Dead was recognized because of its deep cultural significance, its role in fostering a sense of identity, and the way it connects communities through shared traditions that have endured for millennia.
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It’s More Than Skulls. It’s Flowers and Butterflies, Too<\/h2>\n
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Skulls are the most well-known symbol of the Day of the Dead, often placed on the graves of children to represent the connection between life and death. However, they did not become closely associated with the holiday until 1910, when a skull featured in a cartoon by Mexican artist Jos\u00e9 Guadalupe Posada gained popularity.<\/p>\n

Beyond skulls, flowers and butterflies hold equally significant meaning. Marigolds, with their bright colors and strong scent, are believed to attract spirits back to the living world. Monarch butterflies, which migrate to Mexico during the Day of the Dead, are thought to carry the souls of the departed, symbolizing a spiritual return to loved ones.<\/p>\n

You May Also Like: The Best Places to Celebrate the Day of the Dead in the U.S.!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Day Features Altars for the Dead<\/h2>\n

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Lastly, personal celebrations of this D\u00eda de Muertos<\/em> culminate in the building of an ofrenda <\/em>(“offering”), a special altar honoring a deceased loved one. Beautifully ornate and decorated with marigolds and everything from paper crafts to religious iconography, ofrendas<\/em> are topped with a picture of the deceased. While ofrendas<\/em> are usually built at the homes of the departed or adjacent to their gravesite, they can be built anywhere during Day of the Dead, even a simple street corner.<\/p>\n

Components often include examples of the four elements. Fire is symbolized through candles, while Water is exemplified through jugs of water. The element of Earth is commemorated in offerings of food and Wind is represented through paper banners known as papel picado<\/em>. While used as a way to beckon the dead, ofrendas<\/em> are also used to provide them with useful items for their journey through the afterlife, including pan de muerto<\/em>, which translates to \u201cbread of the dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

FAQs:\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

Q: What is the best time to visit Mexico for Day of the Dead celebrations? <\/strong>
\nA: The main celebrations occur from October 31 to November 2, but preparations often begin in mid-October. To experience the full range of activities, plan to arrive in late October.<\/p>\n

Q: Do I need to bring anything if I\u2019m invited to a Day of the Dead celebration? <\/strong>
\nA: It\u2019s not necessary, but a small offering, like a candle or flowers (especially marigolds), is appreciated. These are often added to the ofrenda.<\/p>\n

Q: Is it appropriate to take photos during Day of the Dead festivities? <\/strong>
\nA: Generally, yes, but it\u2019s polite to ask for permission, especially during personal or family gatherings. In public events, photos are usually welcome.<\/p>\n

Q: What should I wear if I attend a Day of the Dead parade or festival? <\/strong>
\nA: Comfortable, casual clothes are suitable. If you want to participate, consider face paint inspired by sugar skull designs. Respect is key, so avoid costumes that could be seen as mocking.<\/p>\n

Q: Can I find Day of the Dead celebrations outside of Mexico? <\/strong>
\nA: Yes, many U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles and San Antonio, host significant Day of the Dead events. Other countries with large Mexican communities also hold celebrations.<\/p>\n

Q: Are Day of the Dead foods vegetarian-friendly? <\/strong>
\nA: Some traditional foods, like pan de muerto (sweet bread), are vegetarian. However, other dishes might include meat, so it\u2019s best to ask about ingredients if you have dietary restrictions.<\/p>\n

Q: How can I learn more about the significance of the Day of the Dead? <\/strong>
\nA: Consider visiting museums in Mexico that focus on the holiday, such as the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, or attending educational events that often accompany larger celebrations.<\/p>\n

Did we miss something important about the Day of the Dead? Let us know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Celebrated throughout the end of October until the first week of November, the Day of the Dead honors those who are not among us anymore. In addition to commemorating the departed, the occasion attempts to bring back their spirits for the day. D\u00eda de Muertos has been observed in Mexico for many years. In fact, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":98911513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1507,69],"tags":[286,989],"class_list":["post-98880232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hispanic-heritage-month","category-travel-tips-intel","tag-mexico","tag-mexico-city"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98880232"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98920811,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880232\/revisions\/98920811"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98911513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98880232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98880232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98880232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}