Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Hello!!!

Have you seen Coco?..If you do, then you might be familiar with this tradition..

It is believed that the souls of the deceased come back down to Earth for these two days (children on the 1st November, and adults on the 2nd), and so families welcome back their loved ones by setting up an altar to them, either in their homes, or in the cemeteries, and often in local restaurants or shops, too. These altars are decorated with orange marigold flowers, candles, photographs, and special Halloween features, such as playful skeleton figures and delicious sugar skulls. Amid these are placed the favourite food and drinks of those who have passed away, to be enjoyed in their honour, as well as special ‘dead bread’, made with dried fruits, and pumpkin soaked in honey. You can see why this festival turns out to be so delectable!

At night, people head to the streets, dressed in scary and outlandish costumes, to take part in the walking parade across town, dancing along with the marching bands. Music can be heard from all around, and the dancing doesn’t stop there. If you make your way to one of the cemeteries, you will find more of a party atmosphere there than anywhere else; the graveyard comes to life! Tombstones are decorated much like the altars, and everyone joins together around these to remember the lives of their loved ones and to make a toast to life itself.

It is this which is precisely the significance of the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico. By welcoming back the spirits of the dead, and in remembrance of them, the people celebrate life and all its vibrancy, through the wonderful Mexican tradition of eating, drinking, and dancing, making it the best fiesta in the world.