Día de los Muertos

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday that reunites the living and dead.  Families gather and create ofrendas (Offerings) to honor and remember their departed loved ones with altars decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations!

 It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living families in homes, businesses and cemeteries. The families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.

Día de Muertos festivity takes place at the end of October and November 1st and 2nd each year in Mexico. This is a joyful festivity for families and the community.

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. 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 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.

FELIZ DIA DE LOS MUERTOS!

https://dayofthedead.holiday/

https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-the-dead

http://dayofthedeadnyc.org/meaning-of-the-day-of-the-dead/