Day of the Dead

Also known as:
Día de Muertos
Día de los Muertos
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Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos is a lot like Halloween, but it’s 3 days instead of 1!
Day of the Dead has its origins in similar holidays from different cultures merged into one.
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Based on an old Meso-American autumn festival.

The place that we now know as Mexico had its own tradition among its original inhabitants that dated back millennia.
Among which were the Aztecs who had in common with the mainly European immigrants that the autumn season revolved around harvest and honoring deceased ancestors.
Both cultures recognized the common theme that life from sustenance comes from life taken somewhere else in the circle of life.

The guest star of Day of the Dead:

The Aztec had a month long festival honoring the goddess Mictēcacihuātl, known as “Lady of the Dead”.
This figure still plays a major part in modern Day of the Dead celebrations.
Mictēcacihuātl rules the Mictlān, the domain of the dead, along with her mate Mictlāntēcutli.
She has a mostly flayed body with a bony face and sagging breast to depict the ravages of time.
Her skirt is made of serpents which are both predators, but also symbols of rebirth because of their ability to shed their skin.
Mictēcacihuātl is mostly depicted with her mouth wide open swallowing the star by daytime, so you can only see them shine at night.
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The modern celebrations:

The Aztec influences makes Day of the Dead a festival that puts emphasis on feeling close to the deceased, to celebrate like they are among us this day and not to be afraid of the inevitable.
Many of the decorations depict the dead mingling with the living joining us in the joyful celebrations they also loved in life.
The departed are not to be feared, because they are still our family and friends.

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Mmm, sugar skulls…

The 17th-century Italian missionaries are to blame for the multicolored savory sweet sugar skulls.
Because Italians love their delicately decorated sugary sweets.
The altars with pictures of all the dead relatives and friends, decorated with flowers and pretty things and with offerings of foods and drinks have elements from both the Aztec beliefs and catholic traditions.

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The theme of Day of the Dead is probably best summarized as:
“Death can never part us, as long as we party together.”